Fast Retailing opens Denim Innovation Centre

Fast Retailing, the owner of Uniqlo and Global Brands, has opened a Denim Innovation Centre in Los Angeles to focus on research and development of denim fabric to support the group’s denim offering.

The aim of the centre is to bring together specialists in jeans development from premium denim brand J Brand and other Fast Retailing Group companies to develop jeans utilising innovative technologies and materials.

The first project for the facility will be research on jeans for Uniqlo and J Brand, with products for both branded developed at the centre being available for autumn/winter 2017.

In a statement, Fast Retailing said that the focus will be on the “3Fs” of jeans manufacturing, fabric, fit and finish, and the centre will develop fabrics with the world's leading fabric makers, as well as conduct research and development on the latest production technologies, to make jeans that “look exceptional and are comfortable to wear”.

The centre features the latest equipment for production and can be used by contracted producers as a research centre. In addition, the Innovation Centre will also conduct research and development on eco-friendly processing and production technologies, focusing on chemicals and techniques used for fading and distressing of jeans.

Images: Fast Retailing