Onward at a Glance
Onward's History
1927
1940s
Founding
Onward was founded by Junzo Kashiyama and began operations as Kashiyama Trading in Osaka.
1950s
1960s
Development as a Menswear Manufacturer
In the 1950s, Onward began the production and sale of ready-made menswear. Taking its cue from apparel manufacturing in the United States, the Company adopted an assembly-line production system and introduced such advanced equipment as Hoffman steam press machines. These efforts resulted in substantial improvements in productivity and the quality of ready-made clothing.
In the 1960s, driven by Japan's high economic growth, Onward grew rapidly to become a leading menswear manufacturer in Japan.
1970s
1980s
Acceleration of Overseas Expansion
In keeping a step ahead of other Japanese apparel manufacturers, during the 1970s Onward developed its global strategy and established subsidiaries in three of the world's major fashion cities: New York, Paris, and Milan. By establishing the local subsidiaries in a short period of time, Onward succeeded in laying the foundation of the overseas business, drawing on the most up-to-date information on the global fashion business.
1990s
Launch of Core Brands
The womenswear business dramatically expanded in the 1990s with the launch of core brands, beginning with Kumikyoku in 1992 and followed by Nijyusanku and ICB. Gotairiku, our core menswear brand, was also launched.
Department stores began expanding womenswear floor spaces and emphasizing new brands from Japanese makers. Thanks to this trend, Onward Kashiyama's store numbers grew rapidly after the launch of the new brands, and this impressive growth formed the foundations for future advancement.
2000s
Evolution into a Global Apparel Group
Maintaining its focus on the department store channel in the domestic market, Onward turned its eyes abroad at the beginning of the century. By accelerating global strategies, the Company began its advance into the Chinese market, established a manufacturing platform in Italy, and acquired prominent European brand JOSEPH.
The transition to a holding company system was made in 2007. In the years that follow, the Company continued to draw uniquely powerful brands under its umbrella in Japan as well as overseas, acquiring pet fashion pioneer Creative Yoko and Island, the maker of the trusted Grace Continental brand for discerning women. It was at this time that Onward truly made a new start as a global apparel group that undertakes various types of fashion businesses all over the world.
2010s
Road to Sustainable Growth
Signaling its participation in the e-commerce field, the Onward Group cut the ribbon for Onward Crosset, its directly managed e-commerce website, in December 2009. The Onward Members' loyalty point card system, applicable to all Onward Group brands, was launched in 2014. Through this and other initiatives, the Onward Group expanded its customer base while accelerating its Omni-channel retailing strategy, which merges the strengths of online stores and physical stores. In 2017, the Onward Group launched the KASHIYAMA brand, a new made-to-order suit business that employs a proprietary factory innovation scheme to realize low prices and quick deliveries.
2020s
Evolving into a Customer-Centric Company
In April 2021, the Onward Group formulated ONWARD VISION 2030, the medium- to long-term management vision for the period to fiscal 2030. True to its raison d'être, "enriching and adding color to people's lives while caring for the planet," the Onward Group will endeavor to achieve the vision with the goals of evolving into a customer-centric company and making the best use of employees' diverse strengths.
Onward's Business
The Onward Group is engaged in business in the three areas of fashion, wellness, and corporate design in Japan while simultaneously working to expand our overseas business in the three regions of Europe, the U.S., and Asia.
DOMESTIC
OVERSEAS
Onward in Numbers
-
Net Sales
189.6 billion yen
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Sales Breakdown
by Japan/OverseasJapan 90.5% : Overseas 9.5%
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Sales Breakdown by Sales Channel (Domestic E-Commerce Business Companies)
Department stores 30.6% Shopping centers and other channels 39.6% E-commerce 29.8%
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Number of group companies
61* companies
- *Including Onward Holdings Co., Ltd.
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Number of employees
5,750
FY02/24
Group Network
Japan
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- ONWARD HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
- ONWARD KASHIYAMA CO., LTD.
- ONWARD CORPORATE DESIGN CO., LTD.
- ISLAND CO., LTD.
- ONWARD PERSONAL STYLE CO., LTD.
- TIACLASSE CO., LTD.
- ONWARD DIGITAL LAB CO., LTD.
- KASHIYAMA SAGA CO., LTD.
- JOSEPH JAPAN CO., LTD.
- WEGO CO., LTD.
- CHACOTT CO., LTD.
- CREATIVE YOKO CO., LTD.
- KOKOBUY CO., LTD.
- YAMATO CO., LTD.
- BIEN CO., LTD.
- O & K CO., LTD.
Europe
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- U.K.
- JOSEPH LTD.
- FREED OF LONDON LTD.
Asia
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- China
- ONWARD FASHION TRADING (China) CO., LTD.
- SHANGHAI ONWARD FASHION CO., LTD.
- ONWARD TRADING (Shanghai) CO., LTD.
- KASHIYAMA (Dalian) CO., LTD.
- ONWARD KASHIYAMA HONG KONG LTD..
- Vietnam
- ONWARD KASHIYAMA VIETNAM LTD.
U.S
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- J. PRESS INC.
Sustainable Management
The Onward Group realizes that sustainable management is an important theme that forms the foundation for its corporate activities.
Accordingly, we will continue to practice management that pursues coexistence with the environment based on our mission statement of "enriching and adding color to people's lives while caring for the planet."
The Onward Group's business strategy
In order to achieve our FY2030 Vision (net sales of 300 billion yen and operating income of 25 billion yen), we are working to accelerate the growth of our domestic business while solidifying the growth foundation of our overseas business.
- 1 Drive diverse brand, product and distribution strategies in the"fashion field"
- 2 Accelerate growth in the "wellness field" in line with new values of consumers
- 3 Create a contemporary "corporate design field"
- 4 Evolve cutting-edge DX strategies such as OMO/PLM
- 5 Strengthen Growth Infrastructure for Overseas Business
- 6 Implement appropriate business risk management against future uncertainties