Izumi Miyachi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

Fashion mavens have woven a strategy to promote the Japanese fashion industry outside of the country by making use of fabrics that have been nurtured by both the country's long traditions and its advanced technology.

The Fashion Strategy Forum, a group of designers, manufacturers and representatives from the apparel and retail industries that have hosted the Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo since 2005, was reorganized into the Japan Fashion Week Organization this month.

In an effort to raise the profile of the Japanese fashion industry in the global marketplace, the organization plans to strengthen the organization and focus on nurturing human resources. The group also plans to launch a new project to pick out talented designers both at home and abroad.

Nobuyuki Ota, the organization's director and president of Issey Miyake Inc., said Japanese-made fabrics will play a key role in promoting the Japanese fashion industry overseas.

"We're set to promote the Japanese fashion industry both at home and abroad, not only through efforts to discover new talents, but by introducing Japanese-made fabrics and other materials," Ota said. "We believe such efforts will help fashion and textile production centers to thrive in the country and eventually reinvigorate products made in Japan."

Luxury brands that are fashion trendsetters such as Louis Vuitton and Lanvin of France and Jil Sander of Germany frequently use Japanese fabrics for both men's and women's clothing.

Among the Japanese-made fabrics used by leading brands is a polyester cloth that sways in the wind and comes in a variety of delicate colors. It is woven with threads finer than human hair. Another Japanese fabric widely used is a highly functional windproof polyester cloth that offers elasticity and a pleasant texture.

According to Michiko Ikenishi, creative director at Itochu Fashion System Co., Japanese fashion textiles, in which advanced technologies and artisans' techniques are integrated, have won high acclaim worldwide.

"Japanese textiles are highly appreciated overseas not only because they are technologically excellent, but also because they can stimulate the imaginations of fashion designers in Western countries, appealing to each of their five senses," Ikenishi said. "Unfortunately, however, Japan still fails to fully get across the uniqueness and attractions of such products to other parts of the world."

Those in the Japanese fashion industry still tend to prefer foreign-made products and fabrics.

But both Japanese designers and apparel makers are advised to turn their eyes to domestically manufactured textiles and products.

In recent years, a lot of young Japanese designers have become keen on using Japanese fabric in their work. They are trying to explore the boundaries of fashion in cooperation with craftsmen, visiting various factories around the country.

If there were places where not only Japanese but also non-Japanese designers could be introduced to little-known materials for developing new products, it would eventually help invigorate their manufacturers.

The sixth Japan Fashion Week, which was held last month, included an event designed to tout Japanese fabrics. The event, which showed a series of processes used in fabric-making, from thread-spinning to dyeing to weaving, attracted more than 3,600 visitors.

The event is believed to have stirred many people's interest as they normally would have had no chance to learn about Japanese fabrics, according to the organizer. Given this point, it will be meaningful to hold similar events both at home and abroad in the future.

The central government's Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters regards fashion as one of Japan's key intellectual properties along with anime and cuisine.

The Japanese fashion industry should take advantage of the fact that it can integrate materials with designs, and the Japan Fashion Week Organization is expected to play a central role in such efforts.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080409TDY04304.htm