Hottest new Scottish designers to visit Japan

08 Oct '08

4 min read

From Scotland with Love will showcase cutting edge collections from Scottish fashion and interiors designers during Tokyo Design Week.

More than 50 Scottish companies and designers will visit Japan to showcase their latest fashion and interiors collections and collaborations at the Tokyo Design Week which will be held from 29 October until 3 November 2008 at Ayoyama and Omotesando Hills.

With Japan fast becoming a major market for fashion, the emerging designers and Scottish companies are looking to reach new customers in Japan and tap into its growing fashion textiles market.

£6.8 billion is spent on imported fashion products and figures show that in 2006 £54.8 million worth of fashion exports went from the UK to Japan indicating the scale of the opportunity for Scottish companies.

Scottish Development International, a joint venture between Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, is helping Scottish textile companies and designers take advantage of such opportunities and reach new international audiences.

'From Scotland with Love' is a specially created event that will enable the designers to showcase their range of high quality, cutting edge designs to Japanese fashion trade and consumer audiences.

Under the initiative, a series of events has been planned including an exhibition at Omotesando Hills, in association with the British Embassy in Tokyo. The exhibition will include a dazzling fashion show from the Scottish designers and a number of Designer Master Classes, where they will talk in depth about their latest collections and the Scottish influences behind them.

There will also be an extended Master Class which will feature timeless and classic Scottish Tweeds as well as a special presentation on Harris Tweed.

Additionally, Scottish Development International will participate in the interiors show, 100 per cent Design, exhibiting products made in collaboration between Scottish manufacturers and designers.

Around 70,000 visitors ranging from consumers, students, buyers, the media and brands are expected to visit the event.

As part of the event Bute Fabrics will feature an exciting new boucle fabric developed specifically for world renowned furniture designer Tom Dixon and distinguished brand Johnston's Cashmere, based in Hawick will show a collection of throws developed with interior designer Suzy Hoodless.

James Sugden, Group Managing Director of Johnstons' Cashmere and Chairman of the Scottish Textiles Industry Association, added “This is an excellent opportunity for Scottish textile manufacturing companies to work with creative and exciting designers to showcase Scotland's high quality and versatile textiles on a global scale.”

Frank Boyland, Director, Scottish Development International Asia Pacific said : “Japan is an extremely important market for Scotland and Tokyo Design Week presents the ideal opportunity for Scottish manufacturers and new design talent to meet with key people from the industry to deepen relationships and understanding of the Japanese fashion market.

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