Established in 1980 in Japan, MUJI is a leader in developing and supplying consumer driven daily necessities including food, household goods and clothing. Founded by Masao Kiuchi, MUJI started as a private brand of the retail conglomerate The Seiyu Ltd. With nearly 5,000 employees, there are over 300 MUJI stores worldwide, currently with four in America. MUJI offers not only quality goods at reasonable price but also a “way of life. Through their commitment to combining simplicity, sophistication and modernity, MUJI redefines luxury towards a no frills lifestyle of practicality and functionality.
MUJI’s product line has expanded from 40 to over 7,000 products, which are now sold worldwide. Their diverse range of items includes baby clothes, beauty products, and kitchenware. However, MUJI truly shines in the furniture and household goods department, offering over 5,000 exceptional items in this category. These furniture, interior textiles, and other household goods make up nearly 55% of MUJI’s total sales.
MUJI has gained global recognition and made a significant impact through its simplistic yet distinctive designs, resulting in the company being awarded five gold product design awards by the International Forum Design in Germany. Additionally, MUJI has collaborated with renowned international designers including Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison, James Irvine, and Naoto Fukasawa. Some of MUJI’s products are showcased and sold at the MoMA store, with a few of them even being listed as best sellers. Situated in the New York Times Building on 40th and 8th Avenue, the physical MUJI store covers an expansive 4,350 square feet and stands as a prominent and spacious establishment at the heart of New York City.
The overall transparent and sleek appearance of MUJI stores, with clean open spaces, natural wood displays, large glass windows, walls, and shelving’s, has a good presence from the sidewalk. Currently, MUJI stores are available in over 15 countries around the world, including Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. In Japan, there are 200 operating MUJI stores, while there are over 100 overseas. In the United States, there is a total of four retail stores: New York’s Times Square, SoHo, Chelsea, and a to-go store at the JFK Airport. Additionally, MUJI operates a global online store.
