UNIQLO announces the launch of"Clothes for Smiles,"a program developed in collaboration with top professional tennis player and UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador Novak Djokovic.Through this initiative,the company will establish a$10 million fund and use it to bring smiles to kids all over the world,nurturing their dreams and giving them the tools to build a better and brighter future.The fund will be established from a portion of the sales of HEATTECH and Ultra Light Down items during the 2012 fall/winter season.
"Clothes for Smiles"will be comprised of two programs valued at$5 million each.One program will accept ideas from around the world via a dedicated website www.uniqlo.com/smiles to give children a better tomorrow,and the second will be an initiative to provide support to programs aimed at improving children's education,through a global alliance agreement signed between UNICEF(United Nations Children's Fund)and Fast Retailing.This program will initially provide support to Bangladesh,China,Philippines and Serbia,with more countries to follow.
Commenting on the launch of"Clothes for Smiles,"Tadashi Yanai,Chairman,President&CEO of leading global Japanese retailer Fast Retailing,said,"I am very pleased to launch today'Clothes for Smiles,'the first fund to be established by UNIQLO,in partnership with Novak Djokovic.This is an innovative CSR initiative in terms of its scale,type of support provided,and its style of accepting ideas for the fund worldwide.'Clothes for Smiles'will serve as one of UNIQLO's major CSR activities alongside ongoing initiatives such as the All-Product Recycling Program and the social business."
UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador Novak Djokovic said,"I feel honored,and indeed very excited,to have collaborated with UNIQLO in developing'Clothes for Smiles,'a totally new program that aims at giving children of all ages a chance for a better future.I hope many people from all around the world will help to support this initiative and in doing so will bring smiles to children everywhere."
Since the appointment of Novak Djokovic as UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador,announced in Paris on May 23,2012,both parties have been discussing various measures to realize their common,mutual desire to improve people's lives and contribute to society.As a result,UNIQLO has come to a decision to launch"Clothes for Smiles,"a program aimed at bringing smiles to kids all over the world,nurturing their dreams and giving them the tools to build a better and brighter future.
UNICEF and Fast Retailing have signed a five-year global alliance agreement that will provide support to programs aimed at improving children's education,initially in Bangladesh,China,Philippines and Serbia,with more countries to follow.
