Topshop, a British multinational fashion retailer, closed all five of its locations in Japan at the end of January, according to Nikkei Asian Review. The Japanese store operator, T’s, Inc. said that the future of the business remains unclear.
The shuttered locations were in Mirraza Shinjuku near Shinjuku Station, Laforet Harajuku, Colette Mare in Yokohama, Aeon Mall Makuhari New City in Chiba and Lucua Osaka.
According to Laforet Harajuku, the shopping center was informed on the evening of Jan. 30 that the Topshop location would not to open from February onward, Nikkei reported.
Fast fashion has started to take hold in Japan, and heightening competition is said to have likely contributed to the closings. Topshop originally came to Japan in 2006 and grew sales with the rise of fast fashion there, but sales had reportedly slumped over the last year. Brand owner, Arcadia Group, does not break out sales for the line, but for the year ended Aug. 30, 2014, the Group outlined international growth plans for this year including opening its first wholly owned store in Europe in Amsterdam on Feb. 26 and said it was developing its trading relationship with Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, having opened two new stores there in the summer.