Reason for Hiring:

Under the slogan “YOUR FREEDOM: The freedom to reinvent yourself,” GU offers fashion that everyone can enjoy, leveraging its strengths in trends, price, and speed.
In 2026, Francesco Risso—who has earned high acclaim worldwide—assumed the role of Creative Director at GU. Building on the manufacturing foundation GU has cultivated, the brand is now stepping into its next phase, driven by a clearer creative vision and the development of products of the highest quality.
Even within the constraints of mass-production feasibility, reproducibility, and price-to-value ratios, we view these limitations not as obstacles but as new challenges. As a result, there is a greater demand than ever for the planning, development, and design capabilities needed to turn these ideas into viable products.
Within the R&D organization, you will work closely with related departments such as Merchandising, Production, and Material Development. Building on a deep understanding of pricing, costs, and production contexts, you will be responsible for enhancing product quality without compromising the brand’s creative vision.

Department Overview:

GU’s R&D Department is a product development organization dedicated to bringing the brand message “YOUR FREEDOM” to life through our products. It comprises designers and patternmakers from all departments selling at GU—including Men’s, Women’s, Kids, and Merchandise—who work tirelessly every day to develop products that deliver fashion everyone can enjoy to the world.
We handle everything from market and trend research to material selection, specification design, and product development with an eye toward mass production. While prioritizing price, quality, and speed, we deliver products that balance fashion and practicality to customers around the world.

Job Description: You will be responsible for designing women’s apparel. Specifically, your duties will include the following:

• New Product Development and Proposals:

Through global market research and trend analysis, you will plan products that embody the “YOUR FREEDOM” concept and translate them into designs.

• Proposals at Product Meetings:

We hold product meetings twice a year—for SS (Spring/Summer) and FW (Fall/Winter)—to determine which items to offer, in which colors, materials, and silhouettes, in what quantities, and how to market them. You will present your product proposals during these meetings.Additionally, through discussions with leaders from various internal departments around the world—including MD, VMD, Product Planning, MK, and global country managers—you will participate in developing product strategies and sales plans that take into account the entire process, from product development to delivery to the customer.

• Management of the Product Development Process:

We expect you to lead the entire process—from brainstorming ideas to product commercialization—in a seamless, end-to-end manner. As needed, you will visit partner fabric mills and garment factories to ensure the highest standards of craftsmanship.

• The scope of products includes all items sold in the women’s line—such as outerwear, bottoms, shirts, tops, knitwear, undergarments, and loungewear—though your specific area of responsibility will be determined upon joining, taking into account your areas of expertise.
• The Job Description may change depending on departmental transfers or organizational restructuring, within the scope of duties related to each department within the headquarters.

Career Path

Depending on your aspirations and aptitude, there are diverse career opportunities available as a designer, including changes within the Women’s division’s product categories, rotations to different gender and age groups such as Men’s and Kids’, and future career development at global locations.

Required Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• Practical experience in product planning and design as a women’s apparel designer
• Planning ability to develop viable products based on market and trend research
• Coordination skills to work with the merchandising and production departments, managing projects while considering pricing, costs, and mass-production conditions

Preferred Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to read and interpret information on international trends and collections in English and apply it to product planning
• Experience using English for internal business tasks, such as writing emails and creating simple documents

*When applying, please submit a resume, a work history, and a portfolio showcasing your past work (submission via URL is also acceptable)

Company Name: GU Co., Ltd.

Employment Type: Contract Employee (Fixed-term contract with a 3-month probationary period)

(If your performance and evaluation during the first year of your contract as a contract employee meet our criteria for regular employment, we will consider hiring you as a regular employee starting in the second year.)
* The employment contract as a contract employee will end after a one-year term and will not be renewed
* If you are not hired as a regular employee, your employment contract will end upon expiration of the contract term

Annual Salary

• Annual Salary Range: 4.25–8.64 million yen (Monthly Salary: 280,000–540,000 yen)
• Allowances: Commuting allowance, overtime pay, etc. (*All subject to company regulations)
• Bonuses: Semi-annual bonuses twice a year, year-end bonus (eligibility and amount determined based on company performance and performance evaluations)
• Promotions twice a year (determined based on performance evaluations)

*Salary will be determined based on company regulations, taking into account your previous annual income and experience, and is not limited to the figures listed above.

Working Hours

Either the standard work schedule or the flex-time system
(Determined based on job duties, expected role, and assigned department; details will be provided during the job offer interview)

• Standard Work Hours System

8 hours of actual work and 1-hour break between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

• Flexible Work Hours System

Standard daily working hours: 8 hours; Break: 1 hour
Core hours: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Flexible hours: 6:00 AM–9:00 AM and 2:00 PM–8:00 PM; overtime work may occur

Holidays and Leave

Two days off per week (Saturdays and Sundays), annual paid leave, special and bereavement leave, childcare and family care leave systems, etc.
*Whether public holidays are considered days off in addition to the days off listed above will be specified individually in the contract for part-time employees
*In addition to paid leave, special leave is granted in the first and second halves of the fiscal year (the number of days granted varies depending on employment status and the company to which the employee belongs)

Insurance Coverage

Social Insurance (Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance)

Employee Benefits

Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Mutual Aid Association, Partnered Welfare Programs, Employee Discount Program, Cafeteria, Dedicated Shuttle Bus (for commuting to the Ariake Office), Defined Contribution Pension Plan (full-time employees only)

Other

• Our company actively recruits mid-career candidates across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you would review the information below and consider applying.
• Within the Fast Retailing Group, you may apply to multiple companies simultaneously. However, please note that even if the selection process proceeds at multiple companies, you can only advance to the final selection stage for one position at a time.
• Based on your submitted resume and interview evaluations, we may contact you to discuss opportunities at other companies or for different positions within the Fast Retailing Group.
• Measures Against Secondhand Smoke: As a general rule, smoking is prohibited on company premises and indoors, and we do not provide designated smoking rooms. (Smoking is prohibited during working hours, including break times.)

Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.