[Edaily Reporter Choi Jeong-hee ] Uniqlo has decided to raise prices on its flagship products, such as its “Kando Pants,” by up to more than 30% in Japan. With the elimination of bundle discounts on socks, the actual amount consumers pay for some products will increase by nearly 60%.

Although the price hike is currently limited to Japan, attention is focused on whether the effects of the weak yen and rising raw material prices will spread to markets such as South Korea.

According to local media outlets such as Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun and Nikkei Shimbun on the 20th (local time), Fast Retailing, the operator of UNIQLO, will raise prices on 11 key fall and winter apparel items starting on the 10th of next month. The average price increase across all products is approximately 4%.

However, the price increase felt by consumers is expected to be even greater. The “Kandam Pants” and “Slim Pants,” popular among office workers, will see a price increase of 1,000 yen (25.1%), rising from 3,990 yen to 4,990 yen. Converted to Korean won (approximately 839 won per 100 yen), this means the price will rise from 33,500 won to about 41,900 won.

Items such as the “Gamdong” jacket and “Gamdong Jacket Light” will also see a 14.3% increase, rising from 6,990 yen (approximately 58,600 won) to 7,990 yen (approximately 67,000 won). Women’s “Princess TamTam” rayon-print long pants will rise by as much as 33.4%, from 2,990 yen to 3,990 yen.

The company has also decided to discontinue its discounted sock bundle sales. Previously, customers could purchase four pairs of socks for 990 yen (approximately 8,300 won), but going forward, they will have to pay 390 yen per pair. Purchasing four pairs will now cost 1,560 yen (approximately 13,100 won). This amounts to a 57.6% increase in the total cost.

Following price hikes on select children’s pants and women’s leggings starting last September, Uniqlo has also raised shipping and alteration fees. The shipping fee for purchases under 4,990 yen in Japan has increased from 500 yen to 550 yen. The price threshold for free pant hem alterations has also risen from 1,990 yen or more to 2,990 yen or more.

UNIQLO’s series of price hikes is driven by the weak yen and rising costs of raw materials and logistics.

Uniqlo operates a business model that keeps costs low by mass-producing clothing at approximately 700 overseas partner factories in countries such as China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. However, since a significant portion of payments for overseas production is made in U.S. dollars, the company faces the burden of rising import costs as the value of the yen declines.

Although earnings are at an all-time high, cost pressures remain. Fast Retailing recorded sales of 3.9633 trillion yen and operating profit of 743.1 billion yen for the fiscal year ending August 2026 (September 2025–August 2026), marking its fifth consecutive year of record-breaking performance.

On the other hand, the gross profit margin for its Japanese operations fell by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year to 50.6% due to cost pressures resulting from the weak yen.

UNIQLO states that while it has continued efforts to cut costs amid rising raw material and logistics expenses and the persistent weakness of the yen, price adjustments are unavoidable.

The problem is that this price hike may not be the end of it. According to Japanese media reports, Uniqlo is expected to raise prices on some products further after December.

However, this price hike is limited to the Japanese market, and there are no confirmed plans for price increases at Uniqlo stores in South Korea. It remains to be seen whether the price hikes that began in Japan will spread to overseas markets, including South Korea.