Concurrently held shows, <JFW JAPAN CREATION 2013(JFW-JC2013)> and <Premium Textile Japan 2013 Autumn/Winter (PTJ2013 AW)>, organized by the Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFW), took place over 2 days, Nov. 20 and 21 at the Tokyo International Forum at Yurakucho, Tokyo. <JFW-JC2013> hosted 246 companies (covering 215.5 booth spaces) whereas 76 companies (covering 85.5 booths) participated in <PTJ2013 AW>, alongside the East Japan Reconstruction Assistance Corner, <J. Factory>, with the participation of 25 companies (Factory zone: 14 companies/14 booths, textile zone: 11 companies/11 booths), making the fairs a success; awash with numerous visitors at a newly located venue, with over 1.5 times as many visitors on the second day alone (compared to the 1st day), generating a wealth of fruitful business negotiation throughout the fairground.

Reporting on <PTJ2013 AW>, <JFW-JC2013> will be sent to you in two editions as follows:

The venue is awash with visitors. Buyers are checking showcased products so eagerly while the negotiation salons are fully packed. I felt a lively atmosphere’, commented Mr. Akikazu Shimomura, Chairperson of the Japan Textile Federation. As for the newly set up <J. Factory> event, ‘it was a timely event, and as Japan is now in transition from restoration to reconstruction, I strongly felt both the eagerness and solidarity of the Tohoku people.’ he continued.
Mr. Hiroshi Watanabe, Deputy Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) stated his impressions, ‘I was very impressed by the show, as I could witness the ceaseless striving to create maximum added value in terms of quality and efficiency by maximizing the appeal of the strength and features our country’s textile industry; generated from various textile producing regions and also how the show provides textiles through fashion trend directions.’

Continuing from previous shows, a business matching programme with VIP buyers was executed at the <PTJ> fair. These VIP buyers included companies, Sanyo Shokai Ltd. (allegri /EPOCA /EPOCA UOMO), Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd. (‘MADE IN JAPAN’ Project Team), Takashimaya Co., Ltd. (Crossmedia Business – Catalogue Sales Div.), alongside designers’ maisons, ‘everlasting sprout’ (Keiichi Muramatsu), ‘HISUI’ (Hiroko Ito), ‘SOMARTA’ (Tamae Hirokawa), ‘THEATRE PRODUCTS’ (Akira Takeuchi/Tayuka Nakanishi)

This was our inaugural participation. We met 3 fabric makers in this matching programme and found uncompromising fabrics, full of story nature. Our division is tasked with non-store retailing of mixed media via channels including Internet, catalogue and TV shopping, while the products we sell are almost like PB, meaning if we take up knits, then we source from yarns to manufacture factories. We also procure fabrics and seek products ‘made in Japan’ for added value, which is sought out and largely supported by our department store clients.
Although the homogenization of shop front products has become problematic, we still do our utmost to go and source upstream to provide products with originality, as we also consider it our role to preserve Japanese traditions as a department store, and would like to survive alongside those textile producing regions. We feel that textile regions and department stores should further collaborate in future.

We met with 5 companies, and were interested in some of the fabrics we saw. It was nice to be seated in a separate space for negotiations, although still within the fair venue, as we could ask several questions freely and calmly.
Since discussing with factory staff is also important, I travel to Hamamatsu, Sumida in Tokyo, or textile regions in Aichi. I believe it is easier to convey more things to clients when factories are behind the creation. Moreover, if there is story nature, this helps us sell our garments for some added value. This also requires sensibility on the part of fabric makers, which would be all the more important in our creation, as conversation facilitates mutual understanding.
Although designers are often said to have concerns over small batch order placements, such problems can be solved after searching for ideas somehow, if we can plan and sell according to conditions. We hope to establish a mutually understanding relationship.

On Nov. 22, the day after <JFW-JC> and <PTJ> shows ended, an info. exchange meeting for 9 overseas buyers invited by JETRO (from China and Korea) and 7 Japanese exhibitors was held, with the objective of acquiring honest and open opinions by buyers to be exploited for further business and/or fair participation.
Most buyers who participated in the exchange meeting this time were young designers who are locally evolving brands, as well as business experts who already have business experiences with Japanese companies to date. In terms of fabrics, ‘made in Japan’, high quality and development capability were all highly evaluated.
Conversely, when it came to price issue, ‘expensive’ was heard by the majority, due to the exchange rate issue caused by a strong Yen alongside the problem of the minimum quantity batch, namely the fact that it was too large. A design requirement also emerged, namely the fact that solid fabrics outweigh the solid, with design/pattern proposals with greater added value demanded, reflecting the importance of distinction in design for China/Korea.

Dates: Noｖ. 20 - 21, 2013 (10:00-18:00)

Dates: Noｖ. 20 - 21, 2013 (10:00-18:00)

Dates: Oct. 21 - 24, 2013 (9:00-18:00)
Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre

JFW Textile Division will be closed during the year-end/New-year’s period as follows:

Dec. 28, 2012 (Fri.) - Jan. 6, 2013 (Sun.)

Our office will reopen from Jan. 7 (Mon.) onward.
Thank you for your kind attention.