GU (retailer)

G.U. Co., Ltd.
株式会社ジーユー
Company typeKK
IndustryFashion retail
Founded21 February 1973 (1973-02-21)
Headquarters,
Japan
Number of locations
455
ParentFast Retailing
Websitegu-global.com

G.U. (ジーユー, jīyū) is a Japanese discount casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer, with 451 stores (As of 31 May 2022) across Japan.[1] It is fully owned by the company Fast Retailing, which is better known as the owner of the retail chain Uniqlo. The name is a pun of the word jiyū (自由), meaning "liberty, freedom" (from high cost clothing). Its signature product is a pair of jeans, which costs 990 yen. As of November 2023 there are 472 locations.[2]

History

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GU opened its first shop in Chiba in October 2006[3] as a more affordable concept in fashion than Uniqlo. In 2013, the company opened its first overseas shop in Shanghai.[4] In 2018, G.U. opened its first store in South Korea.[5][6] In 2022, G.U. opened its first pop-up store in the United States at New York City.[7][8] G.U. opened its first permanent flagship store outside Asia in New York City at the SoHo area in September 19, 2024. The pop-up store, which opened in 2022, has closed in August 2024.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Company Introduction". Fast Retailing. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  2. ^ "GU | FAST RETAILING CO., LTD". www.fastretailing.com. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. ^ "About GU | GU STORE STAFF". LIFE at FR | FAST RETAILING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  4. ^ "About GU". Fast Retailing. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Japanese casual wear retailer G.U. to open first store in South Korea". The Japan Times Online. 23 July 2018. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  6. ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Japanese casual wear retailer G.U. to advance into South Korea". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Uniqlo Sibling GU Opens First U.S. Store in SoHo". Women's Wear Dailey. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  8. ^ Silbert, Jake (7 October 2022). "UNIQLO'S FASTER-FASHION BRAND, GU, FINALLY DEBUTS OVERSEAS". High Snobiety. Titel Media GmbH. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Fast Retailing's GU to open New York City flagship". Inside Retail Asia. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
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