■Recruitment Background:
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 stepping into its next phase, driven by a clearer creative vision and the development of products of the highest quality.
Even amid prerequisites such as mass-production feasibility, reproducibility, and value for money, there is a greater demand than ever for planning, development, and design capabilities that view these constraints not as limitations but as new challenges, and successfully bring products to market.
Within the R&D organization, you will work closely with related departments—including Merchandising, Production, and Material Development—to enhance product quality without compromising the creative vision, based on a deep understanding of pricing, costs, and production context.

■ 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 merchandise. Specifically, your duties will include the following:　
・New Product Development and Proposals:
Through global market research and trend analysis, you will plan merchandise (shoes, bags, hats, accessories, etc.) based on the “YOUR FREEDOM” concept and translate these ideas into designs.
・Proposals at Product Meetings:
Twice a year—for SS (Spring/Summer) and FW (Fall/Winter)—we hold product meetings to decide which items to launch, 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 encompass the entire process from product development to delivery to customers.
・Management of the Product Development Process:
You will be expected to lead the entire process from brainstorming ideas to product commercialization. As needed, you will visit partner material and sewing factories to ensure high-quality manufacturing.

・The Job Description may change within the scope of duties related to various headquarters departments due to departmental transfers or organizational changes.

■ Career Path
To realize GU’s “YOUR FREEDOM—The freedom to reinvent yourself,” proposing total outfits—including accessories (shoes, bags, hats, and other items)—plays a crucial role. Depending on your aspirations and aptitudes, there are diverse career paths available as a designer, ranging from roles as an accessories designer to an apparel designer, and potentially including career development at global locations in the future.

■Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience
・At least 5 years of experience as a designer at an apparel company or a company specializing in accessories (experience in the accessories department) *Candidates must have experience with items such as shoes, bags, hats, and accessories
・Creative thinking, design skills, and an understanding of global trends ・Knowledge of manufacturing processes and quality control, as well as design knowledge of merchandise in general ・A strong interest in enhancing product quality and refinement
・Ability to incorporate new technologies, materials, and current trends and consumer needs into designs in a timely manner, and a strong interest in doing so


■ Preferred Experience, Skills, and Abilities
・Ability to read and understand information on overseas trends and collections in English and apply it to planning
・Experience using English for internal business tasks, such as email correspondence and creating simple documents

*During the selection process, you may be asked to submit design sketches, portfolio pieces, or other work you have created in the past.

■Company Name: GU Co., Ltd.

■Employment Type: Contract Employee (Fixed-term contract with a 3-month probationary period)
(Depending on your performance and evaluation during the first year of your contract as a contract employee, if you meet our criteria for conversion to a regular employee, 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 hours system 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: 6:00–9:00 and 14:00–20:00; overtime work may be required

■ 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, Employment 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
・We actively recruit mid-career professionals across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you could review the information below and consider applying.
- You may apply to multiple companies within the Fast Retailing Group 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 suggest other companies or positions within the Fast Retailing Group.

・Measures Against Secondhand Smoke: As a general rule, smoking is prohibited on the premises and indoors, and we do not have 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.