546 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
http://www.uniqlo.com

Japanese brands usually offer cachet and cool for a steep price, but here’s one that touts quality and affordability. Japanese denim, cashmere sweaters, smart blazers—sounds like the makings of an expensive shopping trip. Not at Uniqlo, the 22-year-old Japanese chain that’s settling on U.S. soil this fall with a massive store in New York’s SoHo. In fact, jeans, a sweater, and jacket might not even set you back 200 bucks at Uniqlo. That wouldn’t buy a Bathing Ape hoodie or a pair of Japanese selvedge jeans. So what’s going on here? Uniqlo is the latest overseas brand to develop its product line, expand on its home turf, then make a triumphant landing in the U.S. It’s less concerned with underground cachet than in presenting well-made, sharply designed clothes for the masses.  Uniqlo opened its first shop in 1984 and now has more than 700 stores in Japan. Its New York flagship is part of Uniqlo’s plan to reach $1 billion in U.S. sales by 2010. That’s a lot of dough at a place where a pair of boxer shorts and a button-down shirt cost about the same as lunch.