The coronavirus pandemic is shredding the global apparel industry, stripping hundreds of billions of dollars from sales and thrusting big names like J.Crew into bankruptcy protection.
While no major fashion firms have been spared, Japan's Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo brand and not far behind the world's No. 2 H&M in sales, looks well placed to cope with the crisis better than rivals.
That's thanks to legions of faithful Chinese fans like 25-year-old IT worker Niu Ran, whose wardrobe is crammed with Uniqlo basics like shirts and socks and who was looking for more in a post-lockdown shopping trip.