According to the Japan Department Stores Association, its 80 member firms that together own 226 stores recorded apparel sales of 169,783 million yen in November 2017. This is an increase of 0.5 per cent compared to the same month of 2016.

Category-wise, menswear sales were up 2.5 per cent to 40,361 million yen, womenswear rose 0.5 per cent to 101,690 million yen while children’s wear was down 4.0 per cent to 10,233 million yen, the department stores association data showed.

Meanwhile, apparel sales increased by 0.2 per cent to 96,905 million yen at 9,825 stores owned by 56 member firms of the Japan Chain Stores Association during the month. Of this, sales of menswear fell 0.5 per cent to 20,806 million yen, womenswear by 0.2 per cent to 27,031 million yen, while other garments were up by 0.7 per cent to 49,068 million yen.

In menswear, jackets and outer wear sales were up, while sales of suits and coats dipped. In womenswear, items that saw sales go up were jackets, coats and sweaters, whereas sales of suits and formal wear decreased. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India