Uniqlo may be opening a huge flagship at Yorkdale

Fans of Japanese retailer Uniqlo might not have to wait much longer for the brand’s classic, bright-hued apparel to land in Toronto. According to the Financial Post, Uniqlo is in the midst of negotiating a deal with Yorkdale to build a 35,000 square-foot flagship in the ever-expanding mall, with plans to open in 2016. (Uniqlo is known for its ridiculously gargantuan flagship stores: the brand’s Fifth Avenue shop in New York is a whopping 89,000 square feet.) While rumours have been circulating for a while that the fast-fashion purveyor is coming to town, they actually seem to have some traction this time, and negotiations are apparently at an “advanced” stage.

In the last few years, Yorkdale has become the go-to venue for international brands looking to kick-start their Canadian expansions. (Crate and Barrel, Zara Home and J. Crew all made their Canadian debuts at the north-end mall.) As for Uniqlo, the company tends to make a splash when it lands in a new market, so we’re looking forward to a decked-out flagship—and can’t wait to browse endless rows of the brand’s affordable cashmere sweaters. Looks like our beloved Joe Fresh could be getting some international competition in the cheap-and-chic department.