Inside Uniqlo’s Big American Ambitions
It’s been 20 years since Uniqlo entered the US, but North America is still the Japanese retailer’s smallest market. With a spate of new store openings in the works, Uniqlo’s just getting started in the States, says USA CEO Fuminori Adachi.
“The US is vitally important to Uniqlo’s continued success. It is one of our key growth engines, and a pillar of our global strategy,” Adachi says. “So we are very ambitious in the US, and have been doing everything possible to succeed here. As in other areas of the world, we are delighted that awareness and preference for Uniqlo have also grown significantly here in the US. But our journey in the US is only just starting, and market potential is extremely high.”
To this end, in fall 2026, Uniqlo is opening stores in two new markets: Miami, Florida and Austin, Texas. The brand will also open a third store in Houston, after opening two in 2024. (This was Uniqlo’s entry into Texas.) Beyond these three new stores, Uniqlo is also opening more stores in existing key US markets in 2026, including Chicago and San Francisco this Spring/Summer, followed by Boston, Seattle and Washington, DC, plus four additional locations in New York.
These new locations are driven by where Uniqlo is seeing US demand, Adachi says. Texas ranks third in e-commerce sales after New York and California, intel that prompted plans for five stores in the state. “These stores in Texas all generated stronger-than-expected sales and represent an important stepping-stone for our continued growth into other major cities, Adachi says. Uniqlo currently has two stores in Florida, both in Orlando, both of which have seen strong support from both local customers and visitors, making Miami another logical next opening, the CEO adds.
For Uniqlo’s first-quarter 2026 earnings, North America generated double-digit revenue and profit growth, parent company Fast Retailing reported in January. The company expects North America, alongside its international counterparts, to continue to generate double-digit revenue and profit growth in the first half, second half, and full business year. In the three months ended November 30, North American revenues were up 30% year-on-year to ¥88.70 billion ($558 million). The region is still Uniqlo’s smallest, making up 8.6% of Uniqlo’s total revenues for the most recent quarter — but Adachi is confident in the region’s growth potential (Japan and Greater China are the brand’s current leading markets). On the investor call on January 8, CFO Takeshi Okazaki flagged the US, along with Europe, as the region that outperformed expectations for Uniqlo International.
Across the US, Uniqlo has seen a steady uptick in repeat customers in recent years, as product has struck a chord with American consumers, the CEO says. “This is fueling a rapid expansion of our business here and helping to increase awareness and trust in our brand across the country.”
Gaining share
Uniqlo USA makes up a small portion of the brand’s total revenues. Its market share relative to local US brands like Gap and Abercrombie is also small.
