When “LifeWear” Meets “Great Work”: The Office Furniture Space at Fast Retailing (China) Headquarters

When “LifeWear” Meets “WorkWell”: The Spatial Narrative of Fast Retailing (China) Headquarters

Lead Designers: Zhao Zongyang, Ono Ryosuke
Design Team: Qin Zhiwei, Zhao Yinglun, Zhang Fanxing, Zhang Aping, Xie Haoxiang, Guan Chen, Kawai Yutaka, Hayashi Yoshifumi, Sun Xiuyun
Address: Shanghai, China
Area: Approx. 16,000 平方米
Photography: Zhang Daqi
Keywords: FMCG/Apparel, office environment design, Shanghai headquarters, brand presentation, flexible efficiency, multifunctional modular design, sustainability, employee care, internationalization, hybrid diversity, office furniture
When “LifeWear” Meets “WorkWell”: The Spatial Narrative of Fast Retailing (China) Headquarters
In the bustling Xujiahui Center of Shanghai, the Fast Retailing (China) headquarters quietly resides on floors 7 to 11 of Tower T1. This space of approximately 16,000 square meters is no longer merely a relocation and expansion of office premises, but a profound expression of the brand core extending from “clothing” to “space”—deriving from UNIQLO’s classic “LifeWear” a new concept belonging to this space: “WorkWell”.

Evolution of the Concept: Goodwill from “Clothing” to “Space”
The original intention of “LifeWear” is to integrate clothing into life, giving daily life more comfort and possibility. “WorkWell”, on this basis, extends care from life to work scenarios. The ingenuity of the word “Well” emerges here: it means both “good” and “a water well”. This means that this space should not only provide a “good” environment, but also, like a spring well, continuously nourish everyone working here, allowing inspiration and creativity to flow ceaselessly.

Space Like Woven Fabric: Weaving Brand, Nature and Humanity
Walking into the main reception area on the 11th floor, warm natural light pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows, and wood-grain materials and “woven” textured motifs spread across the walls, floor and ceiling. This is not only a transformation of apparel brand elements, but also a metaphor for how the space carefully “weaves” people, light, scenery and brand stories together. The slightly raised floor in the meeting area allows people to sit comfortably while also looking across the entire space at eye level and gazing at the city skyline—a kind of understated yet considerate respect.

A Flowing Brand Gallery
The circulation itself becomes a silent narrator of the brand. From key visuals rotating on LED screens to carefully placed display windows at corners, and to brand posters unfolding like scrolls on corridor walls, visitors naturally immerse themselves in the brand world of UNIQLO, Theory and GU while walking. This is not merely display, but an experiential engagement, making the concept of “LifeWear” tangible, perceptible and resonant.

Modularity and Flexibility: Supporting Diverse Ways of Working
The office floors are clearly divided into shared zones, standard office zones and communication zones serving as soft partitions. Flexible partitions, agile workstations, and integrated service cores (pantry, phone booths, printing areas, etc. within a one-minute walk) all echo the theme of “flexible efficiency”. In particular, the cafeteria and training room can be connected into a large venue accommodating 500 people, and can also be flexibly divided—space always changes for people’s needs, rather than making people adapt to a fixed space.

Sustainability as an Atmosphere
Sustainability is reflected not only in the selection of environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving design, but also in every aspect of visual and experiential design: ample daylight, greenery everywhere, visible air purification equipment, sound-absorbing and noise-reducing meeting walls… These details together create an office atmosphere focused on physical and mental health, quietly echoing the brand’s dual responsibility toward “people” and the “environment”.

Conclusion: Space Is Another Brand Language
The design of the Fast Retailing (China) headquarters goes far beyond the integration of aesthetics and function. It tells the brand’s story through space, conveys the warmth of the company, and shapes a sense of ritual in work. Here, “WorkWell” is no longer a slogan, but a sofa where one can sit and talk, a window with a view, a wall that inspires, and a corner for quiet focus.

This perhaps is the deeper proposition of contemporary office space design: how to let space carry culture, let the environment nourish people, and make every day’s work a gentle and profound dialogue with the brand philosophy.