History
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1937
Established as a textile business. (March)
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1947
Conducted export and sales of silk gowns and robe coats; later shifted focus to sales of export towels and became specialized in export towels.
Limited Company established. (August)
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1949
Approved as a towel wholesale trade company by the Ministry of the International Trade and Industry in Japan.Shifted to domestic sales and commenced business with department stores across Japan.
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1950
Introduction of the first Jacquard and custom personalized towel in Japan.
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1952
Established Osaka Branch.
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1956
Introduction of the first printed towel in the world.
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1959
Established Sapporo Branch.
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1960
With print towel technology, signed license agreement with Walt Disney Company.
Introduction of the first licensed branded towel in the industry. -
1963
Changed the company name to “UCHINO CO.,LTD.”
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1970
Established Nagoya Branch.
Signed license agreement with Yves Saint Laurent.
Introduction of the first sports towel in Japan.
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1971
Signed license agreement with Pierre Cardin.
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1974
Established distribution center in Minamisuna,Koto-ku, Tokyo.
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1975
Established Fukuoka Branch.
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1977
Introduction of the first nonply yarn towel in Japan.
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1978
Signed license agreement with Givenchy.
Launched “Yoh Shomei”
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1983
identity implemented. Green is selected as corporate color.
Debut of the first house brand “Green Grass” featuring natural colors.
First in Japan to develop and market cotton towel muffler.
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1984
First in Japan to develop the “towelchief”, which combines the absorbent properties of towels and the compact size of handkerchiefs, entering the handkerchief market.
First to intorduce “Jinbei” using terry fabric in the industry.
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1985
Established a second distribution center in Shinonome, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
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1988
Established a joint venture factory in Thailand : RAJA UCHINO CO., LTD. Raja Uchino Co., Ltd.
Established Paris office.(the present UCHINO FRANCE SAS )
Opened antenna shop “The Body & Bath Shop” and “The Country Store” the first lifestyle type bath shop in the world, in Omotesando, Tokyo.
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1990
Established UCHINO INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD (sales company) in Singapore.
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1991
Tied manufacturing consignment contract with Crescent Textile Mills Limited, a major spinning company in Pakistan.
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1993
Established Shanghai Uchino Co., Ltd., Uchino’s first proprietary factory, in the suburbs of Shanghai, China.
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1994
The Omotesando antenna shop “The Country Store” is closed and “Uchino Towel Gallery” is opened in its place.
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1997
表参道のアンテナショップ『ザ・カントリーストア』を『ウチノタオルギャラリー』としてリニューアルオープンAchieved target of one computer per employee for shift to IT.
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2000
Moved Omotesando antenna shop “The Body & Bath Shop” to Odaiba in Tokyo and Lalaport in Chiba.
Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Makuhari Store in Chiba and Kameido Elnard Store in Tokyo.
Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Kawaguchi Diamond City Carat Store in Saitama.
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2001
Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Aeon Yamato Store in Kanagawa.
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2002
Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Rinku Premium Outlet Store in Osaka, Nagashima Resort Store in Mie, and Itami Diamond City Terrace Store in Hyogo.
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2003
New head office building constructed. New corporate identity implemented.
“TOUCH” at Roppongi Hills.
Established Qingdao Uchino Distribution and Inspection Center.
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2005
Established a new distribution center in Minamikaijin, Funabashi-shi, Chiba.
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2007
Displayed items at the world’s largest home textile exhibition, Heimtextil in Frankfurt.
Introduction of the UCHINO PRESTIGE COLLECTION at Le Bon Marche department store in Paris.
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2008
Participated in Maison & Objet Exhibition held twice a year in Paris, France for the first time. (September)
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2009
Received the Discovery award (les decouvertes) at the January Maison & Objet Exhibition.
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2011
Published a book Intelligent “Bath Time” proposed by TOUCH ~ Science of Relaxation ~ (April)
Introduced a new feel towel like marshmallow.
Obtained patent of “Indoor Dry Towel” suitable for drying indoors.
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2012
Published a book The Book of Towels created by the Ultimate Towel Company. (May)
Participated in New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) for the first time. (August)
Awarded “Thailand’s Best Friends 2012”. (September)
Established UCHINO FRANCE SAS. (November)
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2013
Registered Marshmallow Towel as a Utility Model
Released “UCHINO Quality” standard for safe and secure items that even babies may put in their mouths
New proposal of towels and gauze as “draping fabrics” rather than “wiping fabrics”; launched sales of items developed in collaboration with the factory brand “ao”
Acquired patents for the triple-layer gauze Marshmallow Gauze and Puff Gauze woven with zero-twist yarn and regular yarn
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2014
Opened the first gauze and towel boutique in the world “UCHINO MY GAUZE MY TOWEL” on the 2nd floor of Tamagawa Takashimaya S.C Main Building (March 10)
Halted production at Shanghai Uchino Co., Ltd. (March); continued with reinforced inspection, processing, and retailing in China.
Established SHANGHAI UCHINO TRADING CO.,LTD. (May); separated sales office from Shanghai Uchino Co., Ltd.