Uniqlo Owner Overtakes Zara’s to Become World’s King of Clothing

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index passing 30,000 for the first time since 1990 also helped crown a new king of apparel, as Fast Retailing Co.’s shares rose to a record and boosted its market value to more than $100 billion. That puts the Uniqlo operator firmly above Zara owner Inditex SA, long the world’s biggest clothing vendor. By revenue, Zara still reigns, but investors have bought into Uniqlo as it weathered the pandemic better than other retail giants, thanks to its casual attire and presence in China and Japan.