The origin story behind this iconic brand stamp lives up to its “unique” name.
The Japanese retailer Uniqlo recently revealed in a social media post that its name is actually misspelled, thanks to a snafu from the staff when registering the business back in 1988.
“Did you know our name is actually a typo?” the company’s Canadian account wrote in a video on Instagram.
“The company is originally called Unique Clothing Warehouse. We wanted to register the brand under ‘Uniclo.’”
Instead, the staff at the time misread the “c” for a “q” and thus, today’s spelling of Uniqlo was born.
Fans were shocked to discover the story behind the global clothing phenomenon’s moniker, which also spurred requests for “throwback merch” with the corrected spelling — which is reportedly on the way later this month.
“I thought it was short for ‘you need clothes,” admitted one person in the comments. “That’s what I’ve been telling myself when I shop there.”
“Well the mistake actually did make it more unique and brandable!” another assured.
“That staff did great,” someone else wrote. “I love Uniqlo better.”
“Did the staff get a raise?” inquired another.
This is not the first time the brand has admitted its spelling error. The company has posted videos informing customers about its origins across social media for years.
Uniqlo, which was founded in 1949 in Yamaguchi, Japan, was created to be a textiles manufacturer, per its website, and has since grown into a renowned brand with more than 1,000 stories globally.
According to Business Insider, business boomed for Uniqlo — pronounced “YOU-nee-klo” — during a time of economic downturn in Japan due to the affordable clothing options.
The brand has recently expanded its offerings by tapping luxury fashion designers, such as JW Anderson and Clare Waight Keller, to collaborate on collections.
“Redefining clothing, with a focus on quality and textiles which has been unwavered since the company’s origins in 1949,” the brand wrote online.
