Uniqlo Edinburgh is now open: Here's everything you need to know about the brand's first Scottish store

Inside Uniqlo on Princes Street, Edinburgh on opening day. | Ian Georgeson Photography

Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo has officially opened its first ever Scottish store.

Hundreds of keen shoppers queued up ahead of the highly anticipated store opening at 9am on Thursday, April 25.

Shoppers queuing for the opening of Uniqlo Edinburgh. | Ian Georgeson Photography

The retailer is known for products such as its viral bags, and its new Edinburgh branch is located in the former BHS store on Princes Street which has been shut since 2016. It is now the brand’s nineteenth branch in the UK.

Uniqlo Edinburgh opening offers

To mark the opening of Uniqlo Edinburgh the retailer offered the first 100 customers through the door a special goody bag, while app scan customers were automatically entered in a draw to win a trip to Tokyo.

Some of the items on offer for the opening of Uniqlo Edinburgh. | Uniqlo

In addition, there are limited price promotions exclusive to the Princes Street store. Items included in the opening offers include the brand’s Ultra Light Down, Extra Fine Merino sweaters, pleated wide pants and selected innerwear for both men and women.

Uniqlo has also partnered with Irn-Bru, for a limited time offer. Customers will be able to add Irn-Bru themed embroidery to their purchases until the end of May at the Edinburgh Re.Uniqlo counter.

Uniqlo Irn-Bru collection. Image: John Need

What’s inside Uniqlo Edinburgh?

Uniqlo’s Edinburgh branch spans two floors and around 1,430 sq metres, revitalising the former BHS on Princes Street which has been shut since 2016. 

The new Edinburgh store includes a brief history of the former BHS building. | Scotsman / Lauren Jack

Clothes for the whole family

Shoppers can expect Uniqlo’s full range of clothing for women, men, babies and children. In terms of what the brand itself has to offer, it is best recognised for its LifeWear clothing as well as products such as its ultra popular, viral crossbody bag. 

The brand’s LifeWear clothing is known for its high quality and simple qualities, with items designed to be a functional base for all styles, tastes and settings. Many of the items sold by Uniqlo are also unisex. 

Images of locals who embody Uniqlo's ethos can be seen around store. | Uniqlo

And while simple versatile clothing is at the heart of Uniqlo, brand collaborations with designers such as JW Anderson will also be on offer alongside a selection of products from other collaborations. 

...and Scotland’s ever-changing weather

Slightly unusually for a store opening around springtime, Uniqlo have made sure to factor in Scotland’s weather conditions. There will be more knitted products such as jumpers and cardigans available in the Edinburgh store from opening, as well as waterproof and down jackets.

This will also include items with the brands thermal Heattech technology, which is designed to keep wearers warm, alongside its AIRism conditioning technology which features lightweight, quick-drying layers which can adapt to any weather conditions. 

Katsute 100: A cafe with views of the castle

From the first floor, customers can enjoy an excellent view overlooking Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle as well as the opportunity to sit down and enjoy Japanese treats from tearoom, Katsute 100.

Katsute 100 is Uniqlo Edinburgh’s Japanese tearoom. Image: John Need

Re.Uniqlo Studio

Also on the first floor is the Re.Uniqlo studio, where customers can their recycle, repair or remake their favourite items from the brand.

Whether that’s embroidering a new bag - perhaps with Irn-Bru - or repairing rips in well-loved Uniqlo jeans, for a small fee customers can enjoy their products for longer.

First Scottish store will offer free alteration services 

As with Uniqlo’s other UK stores, its Edinburgh branch will also include free alterations on bottoms which cost more than £19.90, which includes jeans, chinos, trousers and more. This will also be available on cheaper items for a small fee.

Local collaborations

Outside of Irn-Bru, Uniqlo Edinburgh has also partnered with several local organisations.

From exclusive art by Arran Rahimian and items from Chippendale School of Furniture principal Tom Fraser to an instore library curated by Golden Hare Books and floral arrangements from Pyrus there’s lots to keep an eye out for.

The Edinburgh Uniqlo library was curated by Golden Hare Books. Image: John Need

Additionally, Uniqlo is set to partner with Social Bite in support of its mission to end homelessness. The company is working with the charity to develop recruitment pathways with creating in-store job opportunities, while Edinburgh store staff have been volunteering and providing clothing donations.

14 self-checkouts

Finally, Uniqlo will allow customers to serve themselves like they would at a supermarket with around 14 self-checkouts.

Uniqlo Edinburgh's self-checkout area. | Uniqlo

Embracing Edinburgh culture

Uniqlo have also collaborated with a group of seven Edinburgh locals who embody Uniqlo’s LifeWear ethos to showcase the capital’s unique and diverse style with images on display in store.

Balerno-raised singer songwriter, Nina Nesbitt is among those involved in the partnership alongside Aisha Fatunmbi-Randall, a freelance music journalist who has been at the forefront of the restoration of Leith Theatre as a marketing and digital coordinator.

Darcie Maher, head baker and owner of Lannan Bakery, and TJ Littlejohn, the capital’s leading whisky expert, join the lineup from Edinburgh’s food and drink scene. Artist Arran Rahimian is also among those joining the campaign, which will be rounded out with Dr Stacey Hunter, design curator and creative director of Local Heroes, and Tom Fraser, the principal of the Chippendale International School of Furniture.