Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. is a **global apparel powerhouse** best known as the parent company of **Uniqlo**, the minimalist clothing brand that has reshaped casualwear with functional, tech-infused basics like Heattech, AIRism, and ultra‑light down.[4][5] Headquartered in Yamaguchi, Japan, it designs, manufactures, and retails clothing for men, women, children, and babies through UNIQLO Japan, UNIQLO International, GU, and Global Brands segments.[4][5] The business traces its roots to **1949** as Ogori Shoji, a small menswear shop.[4][5] In 1984, founder **Tadashi Yanai** opened the first Uniqlo store in Hiroshima, positioning it as a low‑priced casualwear outlet.[2] The company adopted the name **Fast Retailing** in 1991 as it expanded beyond a single chain.[4][5] A landmark fleece campaign in the 1990s sparked explosive growth in Japan, and the first overseas Uniqlo store opened in London in 2001, followed by rapid expansion into China, Europe, and the United States.[2][3] Today, Fast Retailing ranks among the **world’s largest apparel retailers**, with thousands of Uniqlo stores worldwide and additional brands including **GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, J Brand, and Princesse tam.tam**.[4][5][3] Uniqlo alone accounts for the vast majority of group revenue, driven by a model that emphasizes **few, timeless styles**, high volume, and advanced materials rather than trend‑chasing “fast fashion.”[7] Key achievements include its rise into the global top tier of apparel by sales, influential collaborations with designers and cultural figures, and recognition for sustainability, such as repeated “A List” climate ratings and “supplier engagement