Finally!

The rumors and promises have been swirling for nearly a year, and now it's finally official: Uniqlo has launched its US e-commerce operation. I think this may be a soft opening, as I receive regular emails from them and I haven't heard from them about this yet. But it's not a beta version, it's a fully up-and-running online store.

If you aren't familiar with Uniqlo, it's a Japanese retailer that emphasizes quality and value in basic styles meant for everyday wear.

The selection is quite broad; everything you can find in a Uniqlo store is on the website. Standard shipping is $7 (free on orders of $100) and returns are not free either, but until now the only option was a trip to New York (or the much more recently opened San Francisco and New Jersey stores).

In keeping with the pattern of their recent store openings, there are special prices on certain items, like fleece jackets for $20, men's cashmere sweaters for $80, and colored jeans for $10.

Uniqlo has big plans for expansion in the US over the next five to ten years, and it's a safe assumption that a store in the Boston area will happen at some point, but for now this is the next-best thing.