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Last Updated: 2022.06.14

UNIQLO Marks World Refugee Day with Sales of Handicrafts Made by Refugees - MADE51 Brand Items Sold through the Online Store and Pop-up Stores

UNIQLO CO., LTD.
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Global apparel retailer UNIQLO will mark World Refugee Day on June 20 with the Make a World of Difference campaign, a collaboration with MADE51, a global brand by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, that brings refugee-made handicrafts to the world market. An original UNHCR x UNIQLO #WithRefugees Keychain will be sold exclusively through UNIQLO online stores in Japan and the U.S. from June 20. Additionally, MADE51 pop-up stores will open for a limited time in five UNIQLO stores in Japan and six European countries from June 16. The pop-up stores will sell MADE51 beadwork, embroidered pouches, and other items selected by UNIQLO.

MADE51 allows refugees to utilize their traditional skills and heritage to create handicrafts and sell them worldwide. This helps the refugees achieve economic independence and rebuild their lives. By selling MADE51 items in-store and online, UNIQLO aims to raise awareness of the brand and support refugee artisans.

On June 14, UNIQLO will publish a special page on its sustainability website presenting the current state of people forced to flee and UNIQLO's activities to support them. According to UNHCR, more than 100 million people around the world have been driven from their homes by conflict or persecution. In response to this alarming figure, UNIQLO aims to increase awareness of the plight of refugees in the lead up to World Refugee Day.

Yukihiro Nitta, Group Executive Officer responsible for sustainability at UNIQLO parent company, Fast Retailing, said: "Through our longstanding global partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, we have learned that the best solutions include multi-faceted support for people forced to flee. For example, the provision of goods, financial support as well as vocational training and employment support to help build refugee self-reliance. As a company that provides everyday clothing for all, with a desire for peaceful everyday lives, we will continue to support forcibly displaced people until we create a world where no one is forced to flee."

Christian Schaake, Head of Service, Private Sector Partnership at UNHCR commented: "With over 100 million people who have been forced to flee their homes, we are increasingly looking towards our partnerships with the private sector for support and engagement. For more than 15 years, Fast Retailing has been committed to standing with refugees. Thank you for your continued generosity, compassion and advocating for more support for refugees."

Through their partnership, Fast Retailing has worked with UNHCR to provide comprehensive assistance to people forced to flee, including emergency aid for Covid-19 prevention as well as other emergency responses, clothing donations, employment opportunities and other types of support. Under this global partnership, which was renewed in 2020, Fast Retailing will contribute 20 million yen to help people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes this year. A core component of this partnership continues to focus on refugee self-reliance, alongside other types of support such as education and livelihoods training and opportunities.

Campaign overview
MADE51 x UNIQLO: "Make a World of Difference" An Exclusive Collaboration for World Refugee Day 2022

1. MADE51 special project: Online-only sales of UNHCR x UNIQLO #WithRefugees Keychain

2. MADE51 pop-up stores

Fast Retailing's global partnership with UNHCR

Fast Retailing, parent company of UNIQLO, began working with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in 2006, providing clothing assistance for refugees and displaced persons around the world. Since then, they have made support for refugees one of the key components of their sustainability program. In 2011, to give more comprehensive assistance to people forced to flee, Fast Retailing became the first company based in Asia to enter into a global partnership with UNHCR. Along with donating used clothing items collected through its product recycling initiative, Fast Retailing provides a wide range of support, including refugee self-reliance programs, employing refugees in UNIQLO stores and conducting refugee awareness campaigns.

●More information on UNIQLO's sustainability program, including refugee assistance:

• https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/en/contents/sustainability/

●About the partnership with UNHCR:

• https://www.unhcr.org/uniqlo.html

 

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