History

1959

• Established World Co., Ltd. in Ikuta-ku, Kobe (currently Chuo-ku), as a wholesaler of women’s knit sweaters, with capital of ¥2 million.
• Mamoru Kiguchi assumed the position of President with Hirotoshi Hatasaki serving as Managing Director.

Founded in a 10-tsubo office in Kobe.

Established the Tokyo branch in Taito-ku, Tokyo, as the business expanded.

The logo mark and product hangtags at the time

1965

• Established Tokyo branch for business expansion.

1967

• Developed the WORLD COORDINATE, a brand for total coordination as opposed to knitted garments as a single item.

The total-coordination brand “World Coordinate” (currently “CORDIER”).

The Kobe head office building, completed in 1968.

1968

• Completed construction of the head office building in Fukiai-ku, Kobe (currently Chuo-ku), and relocated the head office.

1970

• Introduced the “Only Shop” system: wholesale shops consisting exclusively of World’s merchandise, developing a sales strategy that takes advantage of its characteristic as fully coordinated brands.

An The display window of the “Only Shop”

Tokyo Branch building.

1971

• Completed the Tokyo Branch building in Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

1972

• Appointed Hirotoshi Hatasaki as President.

1974

• Entered the children’s clothing business.

1975

• Launched the second brand for total coordination, Lui Chantant.
• Opened LIZA, as an “antenna shop,” for directly gathering market information and discerning customer needs, and expanded our business into the retail field.

“Ville d’azur,” a total brand for woven apparel.

1976

• Launched ville d’azur and started the sales of fabric wear products.
• Started “World of Elegance,” an FM radio program (continued until 1993), and announced “Love World” as its theme song.

1978

• Contributed ¥2 billion to the city of Kobe to commemorate the company’s 20th anniversary.
  (The city applied the funds toward the completion of the World Hall, a multi-purpose facility, in 1984.)
• Entered the menswear business around this time.

The large, dome-shaped World Memorial Hall.

World Industry Co., Ltd. (currently World Industry Fabric Co., Ltd.). Awaji Technical Research Institute.

1980

• Established World Industry Co., Ltd. to engage in apparel manufacturing and production planning, expanding into the sewing business.

1982

• Exceeded ¥100 billion in annual sales

The appointment of Audrey Hepburn as the brand’s image character drew attention.“GINZA LIZA” (relocated in September 2006).

1983

• Opened GINZA LIZA in Ginza, Tokyo, as the shop that most exemplifies the image of the World Group.

1984

• Moved the Head Office to the company’s new building in Kobe (Port Island).
• Established a rugby football club, World Fighting Bull, to encourage the unity and inflame the pride among all World Group employees. (Club suspended as of end March 2009)
• Introduced the TAKEO KIKUCHI brand by Mr. Takeo Kikuchi
• Established Le Monde Des Gourmet Inc., in order to enter the restaurant and cafe businesses. (All the stocks transferred in 2012)

The head office building on Port Island in Kobe.

A match from the early days of the rugby club.

Takeo Kikuchi around the time he joined the company.

1987

• Changed the fiscal year-end from July to March.
• Established a joint venture in Shanghai and began production and sales in China.

1988

• Established World Taiwan Fashion Co., Ltd., in Taipei, and started sales in Taiwan.

1992

• Announced the SPARCS Concept, our medium-term business plan.

1993

• Launched OZOC as our first SPA brand using the Department Store SPA business model, and started full-fledged development of our retail business.
• Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.

“UNTITLED” at the time of its launch.

1994

• Launched UNTITLED as our second SPA brand

1995

• Damage from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake led to the demolition of the company’s building in Sannomiya, Kobe.
• Launched the select shop business by opening the aquagirl store in Daikanyama, Tokyo.

The Sannomiya (Kobe) office building, which collapsed in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and was demolished.

“aquagirl” in Daikanyama, Tokyo.

“INDEX,” which opened on the second floor of Tokyu Department Store Toyoko Branch in front of the Shibuya Station ticket gates.

1996

• Opened an INDEX store in front of a Shibuya station ticket gate, marking the start of the brand’s in-station store development.

1997

• Appointed Hidezo Terai as President.

“ITS’DEMO” Shinjuku MYLORD store.

1998

• Opened ITS’DEMO, a store offering assorted categories of merchandise, including apparel, fashion accessories, and cosmetics.
• Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1999

• Introduced the executive officer system and WEL (World Entrepreneur Leader) to accelerate decision-making and clarify business responsibility.
• Transferred listing to the First Sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange.

“HUSHUSH” Kohoku Tokyu Store.

2000

• Launched the HUSHUSH brand targeting young families and began opening stores in shopping centers.
• Announced World Production Partners (WP²) concept as part of our production operation innovation and formed system synchronizing retail outlets, development and production, and factories.
• Established World Store Partners Co., Ltd. to reorganize sales and strengthen sales operations.

2001

• Established World Korea Co., Ltd. to launch sales in Korea.

2002

• Entered the Direct Marketing Business.
• Exceeded ¥200 billion in annual sales (as of March 31, 2002).
• Established a local company in Beijing, China to strengthen sales operations in the country.

2004

• Established World Business Support Co., Ltd., which received approval as a special subsidiary in 2004, in order to start various administrative services for World Group companies.

2005

• Implemented a management buyout (MBO) making World a private company to achieve our goal of continually maximizing corporate value.
• Added Prime Cast Co., Ltd., (later World Production Partners Co., Ltd.) a textile trading company, as a Group company.
• Entered the interior and home fashion businesses.

2006

• Opened a brand assortment store SHOO・LA・RUE to strengthen the Store business.
• Founder Mamoru Kiguchi passed away.

“SHOO・LA・RUE”

World Kita-Aoyama Building.

2007

• Exceeded ¥300 billion in annual sales (as of March 31, 2007).
• Changed name of Prime Cast Co., Ltd., a core WP² concept company, to World Production Partners Co., Ltd. (abbreviated company name: WP2). In addition, established WP2 (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. as a manufacturing base company in China.
• Completed construction of WORLD Kita-Aoyama Building in Minato-ku, Tokyo.

2009

• Marked our 50th anniversary on January 13.
• Established Whole Factory Co., Ltd. (currently World Industry Knit Co., Ltd.) to strengthen the knitwear business.
• Launched the World Ecoromo Campaign, our initiative of accepting unneeded clothing from customers.

The “World Ecoromo Campaign.”

World Premium Club Card.

2010

• WSP Role Playing Contest held at sales subsidiary World Store Partners Co., Ltd. to improve customer service. (The name of this event was changed in 2014 to the TOP of the WORLD—WSP Award—which is given to staff with excellent skills of customer hospitality and sales services.)
• Launched the World Premium Club, which can be used both at World’s directly managed stores and at its online shops.

2011

• Donated 100 million yen to support the reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake, and provided relief supplies for those affected by the disaster, such as cold weather protection clothing and underwear with a thermal function.
• Founded Fashion-Co-Lab. Co., Ltd. to establish a new EC platform business.
• Established World Franchise Systems Co., Ltd. to develop a franchise of the store business model.
• Earned the “Kurumin Mark,” a certification in recognition of its role as a support company for developing the next generation.

2012

• Received Mr. Takeo Kikuchi again as the creative director of TAKEO KIKUCHI. Opened the brand’s new flagship store on the Shibuya-Meiji Street to enable customers to realize the brand’s concept.

2013

• World Production Partners Co., Ltd. certified by the Kobe Customs as an Authorized Importer under the AEO system.

“Risa Magli.”

2014

• Added KaysWay Co., Ltd., as a Group company, and thereby strengthened the intimate apparel business.
• Reorganized group companies engaged in knit items production into one company in order to further enhance the product development function, and named the company World Industry Knit Co., Ltd.

2015

• Added Senwa Co., Ltd., a jersey fabric manufacturing company, as a Group company to strengthen our domestic manufacturing base.
• Appointed Kenji Kamiyama as President.
• Adopted the IFRS international accounting standards.
• All of the World Group’s domestic factories obtained corporate certification under the J∞QUALITY “genuine made-in-Japan” labeling system.

2016

• As an initiative to nurture the next generation, World became a partner corporation of the GOOD JOB ATTRACTIONS, a new attraction area at Yomiuri Land that provides visitors with opportunities to experience monozukuri (manufacturing).
• Established a joint venture with the SAHA GROUP, a leading conglomerate in Thailand, to expand the TAKEO KIKUCHI brand in the country.
• Established WORLD SAHA FASHION CO., LTD. as a joint venture with the SAHA GROUP, a leading conglomerate in Thailand, to expand the TAKEO KIKUCHI business in Thailand.
• Began operations at the World Distribution Center, a new logistics facility in Minami Funabashi, Chiba.

2017

• Made the transition to a holding company structure on April 1, with World Co., Ltd. as the operating holding company.
• Established the fund management company W&D Investment Design Co., Ltd. with the Development Bank of Japan Inc. and jointly set up the W&D Design Fund, which specializes in the fashion business.
• Bolstered the Group’s lifestyle business with the addition of ASPLUND Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the import, sales, and wholesale of furniture and household goods.

2018

• Concluded a capital and business alliance with Omnis Inc., which provides a fashion rental service, and also added Tin Pan Alley Co., Ltd., which operates used-clothing select shops, to the World Group in order to expand into the business domain of secondary distribution.
• Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September 28.

2019

• Through the W&D Design Limited Partnership, added HIROFU Co., Ltd. as a Group company specializing in high-quality leather products.
• Acquired shares in Narumiya International Co., Ltd., a core company in the fashion market for children and teens.
• Added Kobe Leather Cloth Co., Ltd., a general trading company of shoes, as a Group company.
• Established ＆ Bridge Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Gordon Brothers Japan Co., Ltd.
  Developed an off-price store format to promote circularity in the fashion industry.
• Added Laxus Technologies, Inc., which operates a sharing and reuse service for luxury handbags, to the Group, thereby strengthening our sharing and reuse business.

2020

• Appointed Nobuteru Suzuki as President.
• Began production of medical gowns (isolation gowns) at World.
• Launched the sustainable brand “be released” through World Production Partners Co., Ltd.

2021

• Started opening directly-managed stores for British lifestyle brand Laura Ashley.
• Opened the largest And Bridge store, Newport Hitachinaka.

“Laura Ashley.”(top)

“& Bridge” Newport Hitachinaka store.(bottom)

Narumiya International Co., Ltd.

2022

• Added Narumiya International Co., Ltd. to the Group as a consolidated subsidiary.
• Established World Platform Service Co., Ltd. to strengthen B2B external sales in the Platform business and create synergies through cross-selling and other initiatives.
• Moved from the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange to the Prime Market.
• Announced the World Sustainability Plan in June.

2023

• With the support of World equity-method affiliate W&D Investment Design Inc., Strasburgo Co., Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary.

“STRASBURGO.”

2024

• The company changes a fiscal year-end from March to February.
• Laxus Technologies, Inc. was listed in the Growth Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and became an equity-method affiliate.

2025

• Established WORLD SAHA (THAILAND) CO., LTD.
• W&D Investment Design Co., Ltd. completed its tender offer bid for Right-on Co., Ltd.
• Made MC Fashion Co., Ltd. (formerly Mitsubishi Corporation Fashion Co., Ltd.) a consolidated subsidiary to expand B2B external sales in the Platform business.
• Made World Sewing Co., Ltd. a subsidiary to strengthen domestic production capacity in the Platform business.
• Established WORLD FASHION (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD.
• Made Right-on Co., Ltd., operator of jeans-casual stores, a subsidiary.
• Established WORLD FASHION (HONG KONG) CO., LIMITED.

“Right-on” Ikebukuro store.

A store format specializing in cosmetics and lifestyle goods, mainly in and around train stations.“COLOR FIELD” of World Style Labels Co., Ltd.

2026

• Implemented a two-for-one stock split, effective March 1, 2026.
• Made World Style Labels Co., Ltd., which succeeded to the business of Hankyu Style Labels Co., Ltd. (cosmetics, furniture, and interior goods), a subsidiary.
• Transitioned our business management to the two core segments of “B2C” and “B2B” in order to complete a business structure that is not dependent solely on apparel.