News On Japan

Forever 21 to Exit Japan for Third Time

TOKYO, Oct 01 (News On Japan) - Forever 21, the American fast fashion brand that once led a global boom in affordable clothing, has decided to withdraw from Japan for the third time after its US parent company filed for bankruptcy and supply from the United States came to a halt.

The brand first entered Japan in 2000, quickly gaining popularity among younger consumers with its wide variety of low-priced clothing, but exited after just two years. In 2009, it re-entered the Japanese market and operated for a decade before closing again, unable to keep up with the rise of online shopping and changing consumer habits.

A Japanese company relaunched Forever 21 in 2023, marking its third attempt in the country. However, when the US headquarters filed for bankruptcy in March this year, nearly 70 percent of the products sourced from America stopped flowing into Japan, making it difficult to sustain the business.

All stores are scheduled to close within this month, and the company is planning a full withdrawal from the Japanese market by February next year.

Source: TBS

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