Uniqlo extends recycling initiative to schools

Schools that wish to participate in clothing donation drives may submit applications to FR until April 28. The company expects to work with approximately 100 schools in the first year of the Power of Clothing Project.

Fast Retailing remains determined to address international refugee issues. From the 2006 launch of its All-Product Recycling Initiative to November 2012, the FR Group collected approximately 19 million articles of clothing, thanks to the support and direct contributions of its customers.

The Group has already donated about 6.5 million of those items to refugees and other people in need in 25 countries. In February 2011, FR formed a global partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to expand these efforts.

Many refugees and displaced individuals throughout the world desperately require clothing. Fast Retailing deeply appreciates the ongoing cooperation and support of its customers as it works to help such people in need.

Clothing Collection Drives at Schools

Since 2009, the FR Group has worked with schools throughout Japan under its All-Product Recycling Initiative to raise awareness about refugee issues and collect secondhand apparel for people in need. As of 2012, FR had collected 80,000 articles of clothing at 51 schools (included in the all-time total of 19 million items), and it is using the new Power of Clothing Project to establish working relationships with more schools.

FR wishes to use the Power of Clothing Project to explain to young people about the importance of the apparel they wear, while helping them develop a better understanding of international social issues.

UNIQLO employees will visit participating schools and hold seminars to explain the All-Product Recycling Initiative, in line with efforts to deepen community engagement. FR looks forward to receiving applications from educators at elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools across Japan.

Application for the Power of Clothing Project
Application Period: January 25 to April 28, 2013
Eligibility: Educators at elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools
No. of Schools: 100 schools in Japan
Activities: The project involves collecting garments to donate to refugees and other people in need. The initiative can be offered as a supplemental program or as an extracurricular activity. At the start of the clothing collection drive, UNIQLO employees will visit participating schools to hold seminars on the Power of Clothing Project and the All-Product Recycling Initiative.