We foresee alliance between Indian & Japanese designers - Ms Shinoda

25 Jan '11

3 min read

For the first time ever, a Japanese textile delegation was in Mumbai to solicit Indian apparel manufacturers and retailers for their high-end fabrics produced in Japan, like suede, silk-denim, organic lace, crepe, coated lace and wool-polyester blends.

This conference was organised on the initiative of an Indian, but Japan-based entrepreneur, Mr Atul Parikh and Mr Rahul Mehta, President of the Clothing Manufacturer Association of India (CMAI) from the Indian side.

The Japanese delegation included Mr Takakazu Kitatani, Director - International Textile and Clothing Trade Office - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Mr Yoshiaki Kamiyama, Chief Research Analyst - The Japan Textiles Importers Association (JTIA), Ms Akiko Shinoda, Director - International Affairs - Japan Fashion Week Organization and others.

A wide number of Indian industry heavyweights from the textile, apparel sector and also fashion designers had a birds-eye view of the wide array of the fabrics on display and were widely appreciated by one and all for their quality and finishes, which have been developed by the Japanese and are exclusive to the country.

On the sidelines of the conference, fibre2fashion spoke exclusively to Ms Akiko Shinoda, Director - International Affairs - Japan Fashion Week Organization. She informed, “The objective of our organisation is to promote and develop the Japanese textiles, clothing and fashion sectors. The markets of Japan are shrinking and competition is also very fierce. So, we try to promote Japanese textiles and fashion products in the overseas markets. This initiative to promote Japanese products was initiated just two years ago by us.

“We organise three big events and shows annually. First is the Japan Fashion Week in which designers use Japanese textile products, held twice a year on the lines of Lakme Fashion Week. Second is the Japan Creation, which is the biggest textile exhibition, held in Tokyo also held twice in a year. We also organise the biggest clothing expo.

“We foresee a collaboration of Indian and Japanese designers in the near future as the Indian consumers appreciate beautiful textile products and expect high quality, due to the fact that, Indians have been collaborating with the Europeans since many years. In the same, way we too have been collaborating with European designers as we supply high value and quality textiles to them. So designers from the both the countries could joining hands, could mean development of the fashion sector in both Japan and India”, she wrapped up by saying.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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