Uniqlo faces on-line China backlash over Xinjiang cotton stance | EUROtoday

Uniqlo is going through a web-based backlash in China after the boss of its guardian firm stated the Japanese clothes retailer doesn’t supply cotton from Xinjiang.

Fast Retailing’s chief government Tadashi Yanai stated Uniqlo was “not using” cotton from the western Chinese province in a BBC interview this week.

Commentators in China picked up on the remark and urged a boycott of the retailer.

Cotton from Xinjiang is controversial as a result of China has been accused of utilizing pressured labour by folks from the Muslim Uyghur minority in its manufacturing. Beijing has persistently denied these allegations.

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

Millions of individuals learn posts with hashtags associated to the subject: “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 results in China sees a slump”.

One person 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 continue to buy. So, can we stand firm this time?”

The on-line response got here after Mr Yanai informed the BBC: “We’re not using [cotton from Xinjiang].”

“By mentioning which cotton we’re using…” he continued, earlier than pausing and ending his reply with: “Actually, it gets too political if I say anymore so let’s stop here”.

In June 2022, companies began to should show which can be imports into the US will not be produced utilizing pressured labour.

Sweden’s H&M noticed its clothes pulled from main e-commerce shops in China after it refused to supply cotton from Xinjiang.

Many international manufacturers equivalent to, Nike, Burberry, Esprit and Adidas have been boycotted after getting caught up within the controversy.

Part of the explanation Uniqlo prevented the controversy was as a result of Mr Yanai declined to take a stance on the time.

Western companies proceed to get embroiled within the controversial subject.

In September, China’s commerce ministry launched an investigation into the guardian firm of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, PVH, saying it was suspected of “unjustly boycotting” Xinjiang cotton and different merchandise “without factual basis”.

PVH has stated it should reply in accordance with related laws, in response to media stories.