Shoppers looking for fast fashion in Japan last week were met by window notices announcing the shuttering of Topshop’s (London) five Japan locations. Closed stores include two Tokyo flagships, as well as locations in regional shopping centers.
Topshop (part of Arcadia Group Ltd.) partnered with Mori Retail Systems to grow the chain in Japan. Mori confirmed to Women’s Wear Daily that its partnership with the retailer ended last May. A Mori spokesman said Topshop management cited dwindling staff numbers as an impediment to keeping the stores open.
Topshop began its push into Japan in 2008, when the company signed over the brand’s rights in Japan to T’s, a company financed by Mori and JBF Partners. At the time, the company announced plans to open 10 or more stores by 2011.
Competing fast-fashion companies from the West have eclipsed Topshop’s store growth in the Asian nation since then, including H&M (Stockholm) and Forever 21 (Los Angeles), with 51 and 16 stores, respectively. Additionally, in recent years, Inditex’s (Arteixo, Spain) Zara chain has opened 22 locations in metropolitan Tokyo alone.