調査リポート: カジュアルウェアショップでどんなモノを購入していますか？
(Survey Report: At which casual shops are you purchasing items?)

Japanese website Business Media has posted the results of an internet survey of 13,923 people (46% male, 54% female) on which casual-wear shops they frequent. The results were:

1. Uniqlo - 87.7%
2. Mujirushi Ryohin (MUJI) - 54.2%
3. The Gap - 39.7%
4. Shimamura - 37.8%
5. Right On - 35.7%
6. Comme ça Ism - 34.8%
7. Benetton - 25.9%
8. Jeans Mate - 16.6%
9. Eddie Bauer - 12.0%
10. Zara - 7.7%

Surprisingly low number for Zara. Unsurprisingly huge number for Uniqlo.

The New York Times‘ art/fashion blog The Moment has a post up right now about The Gap’s new “Pantone T-Shop.” In short, The Gap is currently offering a limited-edition set of T-shirts based on certain colors in the Pantone spectrum within a special pop-up store.

Hmm. I wonder where that idea came from.

Over a year ago, a Japanese retailer by the name of UNIQLO — perhaps you have heard of them — also did a series of limited-edition T-shirts and cashmere sweaters based on Pantone colors. But I am sure The Gap came to the whole Pantone idea through a completely independent thought process.

Anyway, props go to Uniqlo for being the first mass retailer on the Pantone train. One more example of Japanese fashion prescience.