Uniqlo Australia will open a pop up store in Melbourne’s CBD, ahead of its official launch of the company’s very first Australian store.

The pop up will open on Swanson St from late January until March.

“We hope that the pop up provides a taste for what Uniqlo is renowned for around the world and what Australian consumers can expect from us when we open our first Australian store,” Shoichi Miyasaka, CEO of Uniqlo Australia and a Fast Retailing Group senior VP, said.

“It comes down to our unique philosophy – providing customers with outstanding service and quality products at an affordable price. We’re looking forward to bringing our offer to the Australian market,” Miyasaka said.

The Japanese fast fashion giant confirmed in September it would open its first Australian store at Melbourne’s Emporium development in the second quarter of 2014.

The new Uniqlo store will be a premium large-scale store with a sales floor of 2180sqm spread over four floors – two basement floors and two above ground floors.

The first full Uniqlo store in Australia will open in Melbourne Emporium and will be a premium large-scale store spanning 2180sqm and four floors.

The company has had a Melbourne head office since December 2012.

Uniqlo’s Australian entry marks the latest step in its ongoing international expansion. Since opening its first store in Japan in 1984, Uniqlo has built a network of more than 1200 stores across 14 markets.

It follows Uniqlo store debuts in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia across the Asian region. The company views Australia as a key market in establishing its brand in the Asia and Oceania region and a first step into markets in the southern hemisphere.