Staff Reporters
Oct 19, 2012

Uniqlo 'Clothes for smiles' initiative asks public how to invest US$5 million in children

GLOBAL - Japanese fashion retail brand Uniqlo has launched a global CSR programme entitled ‘Clothes for Smiles’, featuring its brand ambassador, professional tennis player Novak Djokovic.

The US$10-million initiative aims to brighten up the future of 1.8 billion children in 195 countries across the world. The fund will be raised from the sales of HEATTECH and ultra light down items during the 2012 fall/winter season.

The program will initially provide support to Bangladesh, China, Philippines and Serbia, with more countries to follow.

Half of the fund, US$5 million, will be donated to UNICEF to provide support to programmes aimed at improving children’s education, through through a global alliance agreement signed between the United Nations Children’s Fund and Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing.

Uniqlo is asking the public to help not only by purchasing the Uniqlo items but also submitting ideas on how best to invest another US$5 million. Judges will determine projects to be implemented, and the funds will then be allocated accordingly.

The judging panel includes Djokovic; Tadai Ando, Japanese architect and chairman of the Momo-Kaki Orphans Fund; Muhammad Yunus, Bangladeshi banker/economist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient; and Tadashi Yanai, chairman and president of Fast Retailing.

The initiative launched on 16 October, and the deadline for idea submission is 31 December. The announcement of projects to be implemented will be made by early March.

Related Articles

Just Published

5 hours ago

Coca-Cola media business contract lies between ...

Incumbent WPP first won the business in 2021, and formed a bespoke unit called WPP Open X dedicated to the beverage brand client.

6 hours ago

Greenwashing allegations against Mars lead to AMV ...

Former creative partner at the agency Polina Zabrodskaya alleges 'harassment and discrimination' after raising concerns about campaigns.

6 hours ago

WPP and Bain mull sale of Kantar Worldpanel data ...

The deal could give WPP, which owns a 40% stake in the research company, a new source of cash after the ad giant suffered a $55 million profit drop in its latest earnings.

6 hours ago

Clean Creatives highlights fossil fuel risks in ...

The group is urging shareholders to demand greater transparency on fossil fuel-related risks, before approving the merger.