PARIS, May 24, 2012/ — All eyes might be in Cannes, but Paris is buzzing with the news that Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked male professional tennis player, has been named global brand ambassador by UNIQLO.
In a press conference held yesterday, Tadashi Yanai, Chairman, President & CEO of leading global Japanese retailer Fast Retailing announced the five-year partnership which took effect beginning yesterday. The partnership also includes collaboration on future product lines, as well as co-developing the ultimate UNIQLO functional wear.
A preview of the collaboration’s first results will be seen at this year’s Roland-Garros French Open Tennis Tournament that starts on May 27, where Djokovic will debut his newly designed UNIQLO match wear to spectators in Paris and to a worldwide TV audience.
“UNIQLO and Novak share a common, mutual desire to improve people’s lives and contribute to society. We are extremely pleased to have Novak Djokovic become UNIQLO’s global brand ambassador. We will use the most innovative fabrics and technologies to develop match wear that can contribute to the performance of a globally recognized and respected sports person like Novak,” said Tadashi Yanai.
Djokovic added, “I feel a natural connection with UNIQLO. To me, UNIQLO is not fast fashion, and it’s not sportswear. UNIQLO is the ultimate functional wear, which is exactly what I need as both a sports person and an individual who leads a very active life.”
In launching the new partnership between UNIQLO and Novak Djokovic today, UNIQLO confirmed that as its first corporate social responsibility activity it would manufacture a custom-designed charity UT (UNIQLO T-shirt) to sell at a select number of UNIQLO stores and online.
Proceeds from the sale of this UT will be donated to the Novak Djokovic Foundation to support children’s programs. Details regarding the design of the UT, as well as timing and location of sale will be announced in due course.
