Uniqlo faces online Chinese backlash over Xinjiang cotton comments

Uniqlo is facing an online backlash in China after the head of its parent company said the Japanese clothing retailer does not buy cotton from Xinjiang.

Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai said Uniqlo “did not use” cotton from the western Chinese province of a BBC interview broadcast this week.

Commentators in China picked up on the comment and called for a boycott of the retailer.

Cotton from Xinjiang is controversial because China has been accused of using forced labor by people from the Muslim Uyghur minority in its production. Beijing has consistently denied these claims.

Following the BBC report, commentators took to the social media platform Weibo and called for a boycott of Uniqlo.

Millions of people read posts with hashtags related to the topic: “Controversy over Uniqlo founder’s remarks”.

Related trending hashtags included: “Xinjiang cotton is the best in the world”, “I support Xinjiang cotton”, and “Uniqlo’s performance in China sees a downturn”.

One user wrote: “With this kind of attitude from Uniqlo, and their founder being so arrogant, they’re probably betting that mainland consumers will forget about it in a few days and keep buying. So can we stand firm this time?” “

The online backlash came after Mr. Yanai told the BBC: “We don’t use (cotton from Xinjiang).”

“In mentioning what cotton we use…” he continued before stopping and ending his answer with: “Actually, if I say more, it’s getting too political, so let’s stop here”.

In June 2022, companies began to have to prove that the imports to the United States are not produced using forced labor.

Sweden’s H&M saw its clothes pulled from major e-commerce stores in China after it refused to buy cotton from Xinjiang.

Many global brands such as Nike, Burberry, Esprit and Adidas were boycotted after being caught up in the controversy.

Part of the reason Uniqlo avoided the controversy was that Mr. Yanai declined to take a stand at the time.

Western companies continue to get involved in the controversial topic.

In September, China’s Ministry of Commerce launched an investigation into the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, PVH, saying it was suspected of “unfairly boycotting” Xinjiang cotton and other products “without factual basis”.

PVH has said it will respond in accordance with relevant regulations, according to media reports.