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GU (retailer)

GU (ジーユー) is a Japanese discount casual wear designer, manufacturer, and retailer.[1] It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo. The name is a pun of the word jiyū (自由), meaning "liberty, freedom" and its slogan means "more freedom in fashion" (ファッションを、もっと自由に). Its signature product[2][3] is a pair of jeans[4] costing ¥990 ($ USD),[5] though they ceased production in January 2014.[6] As of 28 February 2025, there are 478 locations globally.[1] Francesco Risso has been appointed creative director of GU.

History

GU opened its first shop in Chiba Prefecture in October 2006[7] as a more affordable concept in fashion than Uniqlo. In September 2013, the company opened its first overseas shop in Shanghai,[8][9] later expanding to Taiwan in September 2014[10] and South Korea in September 2018.[11][12] In October 2022, GU opened its first pop-up shop in the United States in New York City, selecting SoHo, Manhattan to test out the North American market.[13][14] GU opened its first permanent global flagship store on 19 September 2024, directly opposite from its former location. The pop-up store closed on 31 July 2024, shortly before the flagship store's grand opening.[15][16]

External links

References

  1. GU www.fastretailing.com, Fast Retailing, 2025-04-10, retrieved 2022-05-17^
  2. Takahiro Kudo. gekiyasu jīnzu no naga sa o kuraberu dailyportalz.jp, en:Daily Portal Z, 2009-12-27, retrieved 18 May 2025^
  3. Raitāpurofīru: Kudō Takahiro デイリーポータルZ, en:Daily Portal Z, 15 October 2018, retrieved 18 May 2025^
  4. g.u. new price declaration – round 3 www.fastretailing.com, Fast Retailing, 2009-09-08, retrieved 18 May 2025^
  5. Manabe Kaori. Fasutorigurūpu ga “990 en jīnzu”... Oricon Customer Satisfaction Rankings, Oricon, 2009-03-10, retrieved 18 May 2025^
  6. Park Jae-hyuk. Uniqlo faces 'cannibalization' for GU entering Korea www.koreatimes.co.kr, The Korea Times, 19 July 2018, retrieved 18 May 2025^
  7. About GU LIFE at FR, retrieved 2023-08-20^
  8. About GU Fast Retailing, retrieved 2022-09-11^
  9. GU to Open First Oversea Store in Shanghai www.fastretailing.com, 2013-08-28, retrieved 18 May 2025^
  10. Uniqlo's GU expands to Taiwan Inside Retail, 2018-07-23, retrieved 2025-11-30^
  11. Japanese casual wear retailer G.U. to open first store in South Korea The Japan Times Online, 2018-07-23, retrieved 2018-08-03^
  12. Kyodo News. Japanese casual wear retailer G.U. to advance into South Korea Kyodo News+, retrieved 2018-08-03^
  13. Jean E. Palmieri. Uniqlo Sibling GU Opens First U.S. Store in SoHo Women's Wear Daily, Condé Nast, Penske Media Corporation, 6 October 2022, retrieved 2022-12-21^
  14. Jake Silbert. UNIQLO'S FASTER-FASHION BRAND, GU, FINALLY DEBUTS OVERSEAS High Snobiety, Titel Media GmbH, 7 October 2022, retrieved 8 May 2023^
  15. Fast Retailing's GU to open New York City flagship Inside Retail Asia, retrieved 2024-05-15^
  16. GU USA www.instagram.com, gu_usa_official, 2024-07-29, retrieved 18 May 2025^