Uniqlo to buy the Gap?
Amy Odell of NY Mag reports that Uniqlo owner Tadashi Yanai might buy the Gap:
Yanai is trying to turn Fast Retailing into the biggest clothing manufacturer and retailer in the world. The easiest way for him to do this by targeting the U.S. market is not to open a million new Uniqlo stores — that would be too much of a pain. So he plans to take a shortcut and simply buy a large chain. Insiders speculate that Gap is that chain.
[hat tip to Marxy]
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Can they afford The Gap? It’s a big chain.
Maybe they can distribute Uniqlo stuff through The Gap or Old Navy.
I hope they realize that a lot of Americans wear XXL and XXXL clothing.
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> Can they afford The Gap?
No, of course not. This is a throwaway comment. There isn’t the financing out there right now for that sort of LBO, plus the Gap is not for sale.
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The Gap has brand loyalty and style, UniQlo might as well be a Chinese company — cheap junk. In Japan, when you get a little present from someone, they always give you a bag to carry it home in. If someone gives you a UniQlo bag, they apologize. That is bad. The Gap and UniQlo aren’t in the same league, at all. If UniQlo could buy The Gap — anything is possible, The Gap’s current customer base would not downgrade to UniQlo. Come on, Kmart had more style than UniQlo.
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Are you serious? Gap is the worst brand ever, it’s only worn by ugly teenagers and fat Americans.
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“it’s only worn by ugly teenagers and fat Americans.”
…and apparently Japanese, since they have stores in Japan. Do you know how to respond to something you disagree with without being infantile, Eddie?
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I’m a fashion stylist. It’s my job to know these things.
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I think you confused Uniqlo with GAP. Uniqlo is seen as more upscale and fashionable in the US than Gap. Uniqlo is still selling their Made in Japan jeans for 80, Gap cant even get rid of their version for 25 because the quality is so crap as well as the fit. Since when did Kmart hire a head designer in the same league as Jil Sander and let me know when Junya Watanabe, Alexander Wang,Steven Alan, Opening Ceremony, Shipley and Hamos do lines for Kmart and Gap.
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Exactly.
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I never bought anything from the Gap when I lived in the US. It’s funny I saw this post today. I just came from UniQlo. Just checked it out for the first time at the new branch in Singapore. I have to say that the clothes from UniQlo are trying hard to be something they’re not, and that’s quality. It’s really hyped up but when you really get right down to it it’s bad. The only thing we found in the whole store that looked ok was a wide brim hat for my wife. Oh, and it’s all overpriced.
So, both brands are bad. I’m sure the average American wouldn’t notice the difference except they’d wonder why some of the shirts had Japanese game characters on them after the buy-out.
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Maybe because its singapore, Uniqlo is known for their affordable cashmere and 14 oz Japanese Denim jeans. It’s probably too hot there to wear either.
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I really hope they so becuase there’s no casual clothing made for a skinny dude as myself. Almost all my shorts require belts.
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