UNIQLO LAUNCHES U.S. HEATTECH DONATION INITIATIVE AS PART OF GLOBAL GIVING CAMPAIGN: THE HEART OF LIFEWEAR

UNIQLO, the global apparel retailer, is proud to announce its participation in “The Heart of LifeWear,” a new global initiative to support people in need through the donation of one million HEATTECH clothing items worldwide. In the United States, UNIQLO will donate 50,000 HEATTECH units to provide warmth to individuals experiencing homelessness, asylum seekers, refugees, and others in need.

Jean Shein, Global Director of Sustainability at UNIQLO, stated, “At UNIQLO, we believe in the power of clothing to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Through ‘The Heart of LifeWear’ initiative, we are committed to supporting communities across the United States by providing warmth and comfort to those who need it most during this holiday season.”

In the spirit of giving, customers are invited to contribute to this campaign by donating at checkout in all UNIQLO stores to support homeless youth through Covenant House. They can also donate their gently used UNIQLO clothing through the RE.UNIQLO program, which repurposes these items to further aid communities.

Partnering Organizations in the U.S. include:

Covenant House

Since 1972, Covenant House (UNIQLO clothing distribution event at Covenant House shown at top) has offered housing and support to youth overcoming homelessness, human trafficking, and exploitation. By providing HEATTECH products, UNIQLO aims to meet the basic needs of Covenant House youth, empowering them with warmth and dignity this winter. This season, UNIQLO also hosted a Holiday HEATTECH Gifting Event at Covenant House’s Pride Hall in New York City, transforming it into a festive winter wonderland. Youth enjoyed personalized shopping, manga-style portraits, video game competitions, cookie decorating, and raffle prizes, creating a joyful holiday experience with the support of UNIQLO volunteers. For more information, visit covenanthouse.org.

Save the Children

As the world’s first and leading independent children’s organization, Save the Children works in more than 250 rural U.S. communities in 14 states, providing essential services like early education and childcare. HEATTECH items, including beanies, socks, and ultra-warm innerwear, will help children in cold areas like Washington State and West Virginia stay warm. Save the Children also responds to crises, such as hurricanes, when warm clothing is critical. For more information, visit savethechildren.org.

Department of Homeless Services (DHS)

In partnership with NYC DHS, UNIQLO will provide HEATTECH items to unhoused individuals throughout the city. DHS’s Street Homeless Solutions team will distribute these items during outreach efforts and at specialized centers. This essential gear will protect New Yorkers from the risks of hypothermia on the coldest days. Learn more at nyc.gov/dhs.

NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals’ Street Health Outreach & Wellness (SHOW) program connects unhoused and vulnerable New Yorkers with medical and social services through its six mobile units. SHOW teams are staffed with a multidisciplinary team of medical providers, social workers, and counselors to provide patients medical care, behavioral health evaluations, and connections to harm reduction services, as well as food, water, and clothing. Since the program’s launch in April 2021, SHOW teams have performed nearly 250,000 engagements with community members. UNIQLO’s HEATTECH donation will support SHOW’s mission by providing warm clothing to vulnerable patients in need of essential healthcare and stability. For more information, visit NYC Health + Hospitals’ SHOW program website.

For more details on UNIQLO’s Heart of LifeWear initiative, visit uniqlo.com.