I first learned about UNIQLO when I went to  Bangkok, Thailand earlier this year. It was the opening weekend of Mega Bangna and I saw a lot of people lining up outside a store. I easily figured out from the paper bags that it’s a Japanese store. And when I got back to Manila, people.. at least the bloggers, were raving about a UNIQLO opening in Manila the following month of June. Ben Chan’s group was bringing the Japanese brand to SM Mall of Asia first on June 15 and other stores would follow around the metro.

I checked out the brand’s official website and found out the store just sells “basic” and “functional” clothes. I thought UNIQLO was the MUJI of clothes for everyone who doesn’t like wearing flashy clothes.

People say the clothes are cheap but if you are a regular bargain-hunter and thrift-shopper like me, you would disagree. For me, any item out in the market that costs more than the ‘Average Daily Cost of Living per Family’ in the Philippines is expensive.

So UNIQLO Manila opened months ago but I only got to visit the SM Mall of Asia Branch last month. I bought nothing because I liked nothing. (Flannel shirts? Knit wear?? In the tropics??) I know though that the quality of clothes there are very good as I recently got a Uniqlo shirt as a gift from TheBeautyBlogMD. It was a plain, pink shirt which I liked because of the fabric and the fit. I was checking out the statement and cartoon character shirts but I didn’t want to spend that amount for a cutesy T-shirt when I don’t often wear such cotton shirts.

Recently though, I got to check out the store items more closely at the newly opened UNIQLO store in Siam Paragon here in Bangkok. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the second branch in the country to open. I wasn’t really in the mood because the toddler was already making a scene. Glad my husband offered to look after our son so I could have explore the store. I wasn’t planning on buying anything as this trip to Bangkok isn’t a “business travel”. By business travel I meant a shopping expedition. We are here to spend time with the family and mainly see the new baby.

But it’s opening weekend so the prices were lower. I think even lower than the opening prices in Manila. Regular price of UNIQLO T-shirts in the Philippines is P790 but during launch, they sold for P590. Here in Bangkok though, the character UNIQLO T-shirts are priced at 290 Baht which is around P388. Pwede. I bought only one. I didn’t bother checking out shirts for my husband because I know he wouldn’t approve of the printed shirts available there.

I got this iconic Campbell Soup by Andy Warhol Graphic Print T-shirt:

I also wanted to buy a Barbie T-shirt but I didn’t like the fit. It was getting late too so paid for the shirt right away.  The UNIQLO in Siam Paragon is smaller than MOA’s, I think only half the size. We went on a Tuesday night so there weren’t so many people. In fact, there were only a handful of us inside.

Would I recommend UNIQLO for those living in Bangkok? Yes, if you can afford. 🙂

UNIQLO THAILAND’s Official Website: www.uniqlo.com/th/
UNIQLO Thailand’s Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/uniqlo.th
UNIQLO Thailand’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/UNIQLO_TH

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 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. – Luke 16:10