As Japan ’ s richest person , Uniqlo and Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai has built his fortune on an in-demand formula of functional fashion and a digital-first strategy
LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT
Tadashi Yanai
The Japanese retail executive who bet big on no-frills fashion
As Japan ’ s richest person , Uniqlo and Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai has built his fortune on an in-demand formula of functional fashion and a digital-first strategy
WRITTEN BY : KATE BIRCH
Age 74 , Tadashi Yanai is more ambitious than ever . As founder and president of Fast Retailing , the Japanese billionaire wants his company to become the world ’ s largest retailer .
Tadashi built and runs the Tokyo-listed US $ 73.05 billion retail clothing empire , most famously known for its signature brand Uniqlo , along with six other brands Theory , Helmut Lang , J Brand and GU .
“ For us at Fast Retailing , 2023 is the year for proactively implementing strategies to become the world ' s best global brand ,” Tadashi said in a statement in May .
Having already passed Gap in fashion retail rankings , the goal now is to take on competitors Zara and H & M . This means tripling revenue to ¥ 10 trillion ( US $ 67 billion ) over the next decade – an ambition entirely feasible given Uniqlo ’ s continued global growth , and the emergence of the Asian era .
12 December 2023