Apparel giant Fast Retailing Co. is set to open a new Uniqlo store in Tokyo¡¯s Harajuku district on Friday, the first such opening in eight years in the fashion hub, while it navigates the economic fallout and low retail sales caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

¡°The Harajuku store is really symbolic for us,¡± Uniqlo CEO Maki Akaida said during a preview of the outlet for the media Wednesday.

She added that the Harajuku store that opened in 1998 was Uniqlo¡¯s first in a busy urban area, and also helped launch a fleece clothing boom.