Japanese brand Uniqlo: We do not use slave labor

Tadashi Yanai, CEO of Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo, has made the first public statement about his company’s material sourcing policies. Speaking to the BBC on November 28, 2024, Yanai said that Uniqlo does not use cotton from East Turkistan, saying, “We do not use cotton from Xinjiang (East Turkistan).” Yanai also announced that the company is taking steps to make its supply chain more open in the name of transparency.
ALLEGATIONS OF FORCED LABOR AND RISING BOYCOTS AROUND THE WORLD
East Turkistan is known worldwide for its quality cotton. However, increasing evidence that Uyghurs are being forced to work in Chinese factories has led to serious boycotts and sanctions against brands that use this cotton. In 2022, the US enacted the “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act,” banning imports of products from the region.
Many global brands have pulled products that use cotton from East Turkistan from their shelves. Big brands like Zara, H&M, Nike, Burberry, Esprit, and Addidas have faced huge backlash by being boycotted.
REACTIONS RISE TO UNIQLO IN CHINA
Yanai’s statements were met with huge backlash in China. Calls to boycott Uniqlo spread rapidly on Chinese social media platforms. The hashtag “Discussion over Uniqlo founder’s remarks” was shared by millions of people, and posts on the subject quickly became trending topics. Chinese users argued that the brand’s sales in China should decrease.
UNIQLO’S PLACE IN TENSIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE WORLD
Yanai’s statements point to an important point not only regarding the company’s business strategy but also regarding trade tensions between China and the world. How Uniqlo will deal with these discussions and what their impact will be on the large market in China is eagerly awaited.