UKTI London Region and UKTI Japan jointly organised The UK Fashion Showcase on 9 and 10 November in Tokyo’s fashionable Aoyama. The Showcase featured 22 UK companies covering men’s, ladies’, children’s wear, shoes, accessories and jewellery.
This year’s Showcase attracted 300 high quality buyers and press. The buyers included retailers, department stores, big select shops*, boutiques, trading companies, importers, wholesalers and distributors. What a wide range! Several brands received sample orders or were able to strike business deals at the event.
Anya Hindmarch (pictured below) was coincidently in Tokyo for her new collection event, and popped in to the showcase to meet with the British Ambassador to Japan, Mr David Warren and mission members.
UKTI Japan has been running a successful fashion trade mission to Japan for many years. Each year we continually try to improve the event. This year we chose Aoyama as a venue for the Showcase because it is at the heart of Tokyo’s fashion industry. We also ran the Showcase over two days to enable busy buyers/press to visit. The strong Yen encouraged brisk business and we found this year that men’s wear made in the UK in particular was popular.
Participating brands were delighted to obtain direct feedback from the Showcase visitors. UKTI Japan will continue to support them and is planning to organise the Showcase again next year.
*A “Select shop” imports and sells a variety of brands to provide consumers with a wide selection.
Hisayo Aoki
Hisayo.aoki@fco.gov.uk
UKTI Japan