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J Quality logo for genuine Japanese-made clothes
20 Oct '15
3 min read
Japan's apparel industry has launched a certification system called J Quality that guarantees the clothes that went on sale this autumn are all-Japanese products, The Japan News has reported.
Obtaining the certification means the product's entire manufacturing process took place within Japan, from manufacturing the textiles through to their stitching into garments, with the exception of producing the raw materials.
The certification system has been promoted by the Japan Fashion Industry Council, an organization comprised of apparel-related businesses. The system intends to help raise the profile of high-quality Japanese clothes, as their market has been shrinking due to rising imports.
Takashimaya department store in Tokyo has set up a time-limited store for Sanyo Shokai Ltd.'s “100nencoat” (100-year coat) in its menswear section. Products at the store have various appealing features, such as textiles in deep hues achieved by using warp and weft in different colors, buttons that are easy to handle and beautiful stitching.
“These products have been received well by consumers of a wide range of ages from their 20s to 70s due to elaborate and detailed work,” said Yusuke Umemoto of the company's business division. “Such clothes are very rare, even among our company's brands.”
Four types of men's coats are priced at ¥76,000 ($638) plus tax and up.
For clothes, hats, gloves and some other products, the Consumer Affairs Agency defines the countries where they are sewn as their countries of origin. Therefore, products that are sewn in Japan are described as “Japanese products,” even though their textiles are manufactured overseas.
Meanwhile, products can bear labels with the J Quality logo if they are fully manufactured in Japan, including weaving textiles, knitting, dyeing and processing, and sewing.
So far, a total of 135 types of products of 18 brands made by 10 companies have been certified.
The industry organization launched the certification system due to concern over the future of the domestic textile industry, including apparel, as the industry has been dwindling and is seriously affected by cheap imported products.
According to the Japan Textiles Importers Association, the number of garments manufactured in Japan has been decreasing year on year. Last year, imported garments accounted for 97 per cent of all clothes in the Japanese market.
However, Japanese textile products have been gaining support at home and abroad in recent years. Apparel companies, therefore, have individually developed and promoted Japanese products, The Japan News report said. (SH)
Obtaining the certification means the product's entire manufacturing process took place within Japan, from manufacturing the textiles through to their stitching into garments, with the exception of producing the raw materials.
The certification system has been promoted by the Japan Fashion Industry Council, an organization comprised of apparel-related businesses. The system intends to help raise the profile of high-quality Japanese clothes, as their market has been shrinking due to rising imports.
Takashimaya department store in Tokyo has set up a time-limited store for Sanyo Shokai Ltd.'s “100nencoat” (100-year coat) in its menswear section. Products at the store have various appealing features, such as textiles in deep hues achieved by using warp and weft in different colors, buttons that are easy to handle and beautiful stitching.
“These products have been received well by consumers of a wide range of ages from their 20s to 70s due to elaborate and detailed work,” said Yusuke Umemoto of the company's business division. “Such clothes are very rare, even among our company's brands.”
Four types of men's coats are priced at ¥76,000 ($638) plus tax and up.
For clothes, hats, gloves and some other products, the Consumer Affairs Agency defines the countries where they are sewn as their countries of origin. Therefore, products that are sewn in Japan are described as “Japanese products,” even though their textiles are manufactured overseas.
Meanwhile, products can bear labels with the J Quality logo if they are fully manufactured in Japan, including weaving textiles, knitting, dyeing and processing, and sewing.
So far, a total of 135 types of products of 18 brands made by 10 companies have been certified.
The industry organization launched the certification system due to concern over the future of the domestic textile industry, including apparel, as the industry has been dwindling and is seriously affected by cheap imported products.
According to the Japan Textiles Importers Association, the number of garments manufactured in Japan has been decreasing year on year. Last year, imported garments accounted for 97 per cent of all clothes in the Japanese market.
However, Japanese textile products have been gaining support at home and abroad in recent years. Apparel companies, therefore, have individually developed and promoted Japanese products, The Japan News report said. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
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