Uniqlo launches The Heart of LifeWear charity initiative

Fast Retailing's Uniqlo has announced a global initiative to donate one million new items of its Heattech thermal clothing to people in need this winter.

Dubbed 'The Heart of LifeWear,' the company said it originated by considering the question 'What makes life better?' and “ask how, in the year of its 40th anniversary, the brand could take more concrete steps to contribute to society through LifeWear.”

The company has already made a significant donation in Moldova for Ukrainian refugees. Other examples of their donation will include half a million items distributed through UNHCR to forcibly displaced people in Jordan this winter. 100,000 items will then be delivered in Japan to victims of the earthquake and torrential rains on the Noto Peninsula, as well as to child and family service centers. In North America, 80,000 items will go to refugees, homeless people, adults and children living in poverty.

In parallel, the UK will work with local partners to distribute a total of 10,000 items that will also help refugees, people living in poverty and the homeless. He is working with Social Bite, Goods for Good, Crisis Liverpool, Crisis London and New Horizon in Britain.

Koji Yanai, senior group executive director of Fast Retailing Co, said: “All over the world, every day there are people whose situation changes suddenly, regardless of their intentions or will, due to conflict, persecution or natural disasters. No one wants to become refugee or suddenly find themselves living in precarious circumstances.

“Through our new global initiative… Uniqlo seeks to have a positive impact on the lives of as many people as possible living in such situations, with the aim of helping to make life better and more comfortable, even if it is a little, for people in need around the world.”

Currently, there are more than 120 million refugees and internally displaced people around the world, as well as many others forced to live in difficult circumstances, both in the markets where Uniqlo operates and in nearby regions.

The company's goal is to “help make life a little more comfortable for people forced to flee, children in need, victims of natural disasters and other vulnerable people around the world.”

In addition to Heattech thermal items, it will also donate lightweight and breathable AIRism clothing, depending on the climate of the recipient region.

And it will be attended by global brand ambassadors and materials manufacturer Toray Group, who jointly developed Heattech. Ambassadors include Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Shingo Kunieda, Gordon Reid, Ayumu Hirano and Adam Scott.