Hundreds queue as fashion giant opens in city

Hundreds of shoppers have been queuing outside Uniqlo's new store in Liverpool as the Japanese clothing giant officially threw open its doors in the city.

People who started waiting as early as 06:00 BST on camping chairs were treated to a performance by Japanese drummers outside the new outlet in the Liverpool One precinct.

One shopper, Ian Bradley, said he had even trimmed his beard for the event, adding: "This is the biggest day of my year."

The global brand said it was delighted to be in the heart of a "vibrant and thriving" city.

Another shopper in the queue was Emma, who described herself as an adopted Scouser and said: "I'm from London where Uniqlo has been for a long long time.

"I'm just so glad I no longer have to travel back as it is now in our wonderful city.

"As a gay woman they do gender neutral clothing and they also do kid's clothes for my six-year-old which is fantastic."

Dr Les Dolega, senior lecturer in geography and planning at the University of Liverpool, said the arrival of a big highstreet player at a time when retail stores were in decline was a "positive development" for the city.

Last year the company suffered an online backlash in China after the boss of its parent company said the Japanese clothing retailer does not source cotton from Xinjiang, where the Chinese government denies using forced labour by people from the Muslim Uyghur minority in its production.

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