A group of Japanese designers, apparel industry experts and textile makers will organize a major fashion event in Tokyo this fall after the Paris Collection in France, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday.
The group hopes the show will help shore up Japan's presence in the world fashion scene, ministry officials said. The group met Wednesday to launch an organizing body for the event, dubbed "Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo." The event is slated to take place in late October and early November.
The event will mainly feature a fashion show and exhibitions of textiles and fibers manufactured in Japan to draw attention from international buyers.
The Tokyo Collection, a fashion event that has been held twice a year for nearly 20 years, will coincide with Japan fashion week, the official said.
"Design is a major pillar of Japan's new industry strategies," industry minister Shoichi Nakagawa said. "We'd like to back up promotional activities for Japanese-brand clothing designs."
The METI official said Japan's presence in world fashion has fallen because low-priced clothing and materials from China are inundating the Japanese market.
Since the Tokyo Collection has been held in several venues for longer periods than shows are in other parts of the world, including Paris, New York and Milan, it is also hard for overseas participants to cover the entire period, she said.
As a result of Tokyo's declining fashion status, more and more promising designers are releasing their pieces abroad, the official added.