An Era of Growth and Stability on Cards in Japanese Retail Sector

Image Credit: bit.ly/18LGCJl

According to Japan Consuming reports, the apparel market of Japan is all set to witness an era of growth and steadiness after two years of decline.

Although the apparel sales recorded an incremental growth of 0.4 percent in the fiscal year 2012, a strong growth rate of 5.2 percent was averaged by the top 100 retailers in the market. With such impressive growth rate, market leaders have acquired above 60 percent share of the apparel market. Most of the growth was delivered by the specialty chains but the e-commerce businesses also delivered handsome sales growth in the market.

The fiscal year 2012 was a good year for apparel retail stores in Japan. In spite of recording less than 2.3 percent sales growth of the year before, the market was on path of recovery only for the second time since 2003. The highlights of overall Japanese apparel retailing are as follows:

• Year on year average sales growth among the top 100 was 5.2 percent, increase of a significant 2.0 points on FY 2011.

Image Credit: bit.ly/1fgQgrx

• The real growth came basically from two channels. While e-commerce rose nearly 7.2 percent, specialty retailing recorded 10 percent growth. The general merchandise stores or supermarkets and department stores went down 1 percent on average, indicating greater stability in these channels.

• Specialty chains dominated the top 10 retailer list of the highest growth. Direct marketers Jupiter Shop Channel and Start Today were also in the list.

• The top 100 retailers in combine shared more than 63 percent of the apparel market and 48 percent of apparel, accessories and footwear market.

Specialty Chains Dominate but E-Commerce Growing Fast Too

In the last 15 years, the specialty chains have been successfully increasing their market share as an apparel vendor. All the new entrants have infused the sector with new growth, innovation and ideas. There are several new entrants, such as Mash Style Lab, Trinity Arts and F.O. International, in the top 100 rankings.

All the new developments in Japanese retail market say volumes about the presence and influence of Japanese fashion trends on the global platform.

Post by Beautiful Places to visit in Japan.

Follow the Latest Trends in Suits this Season

Image Credit: bit.ly/18bevbA

For fashion conscious men, their wardrobe always has to be up-to-date. One of the most important ensembles in a man’s wardrobe is a suit. Now, if a man is to choose a fashionable suit for the new season, he has to make sure that the suit is universal in appeal and well tailored in the right colour.

The suit a man chooses to be a part of his wardrobe for the fall-winter collection of 2013-2014 has to fit the trends that are ruling the season. The suit models have to be up to the mark and current.

What is ‘in’ this season?

If you want to buy or tailor a suit this season, you can very well go for suits that have long jackets or the three-piece suit that will never go out of style. The trends that prevail in the season are the futuristic styles, the retro style, military or safari style, the sophisticated classic, etc. The formal suit is also very much in fashion this season.

Image Credit: bit.ly/18bevbA

Designs incorporated to make suits and men’s wear more stylish

• Coat

• Collarless jacket

• Low scye pants with cuffs

• Zipper

• Belt-cummerbund and various other elements

The belt has been much in vogue this season in suit collections of 2013-2014, fall-winter. Suits with belts have been very much in fashion. The military designs with belts have also come into the spot light. Japanese fashion trends for men are very much in focus all year round but when it comes to belts, the Japanese obi-belt is excluded from the list.

Image Credit: bit.ly/18bevbA

Patterns, Designs & Colours

A combination of various elements is extremely trendy this season. For example, a combination of various colours and textures are used to create new block designs. The trendy materials include:

• Tweed

• Leather

• Wool fabrics

• Velvet textures

• Denim, etc.

Also, the jacket lapels are made of satin or other kinds of shiny material. The colours that dominate other than black and grey are:

• Beige

• Chocolate

• Red

• Military

• Burgundy

• Emerald

• Cobalt blue

• Dark ink

• Rust, etc.

Designs like stripes, graphics, checks and abstract prints are very trendy this fall-winter. So, if you want to buy or make a suit to fit the trends of the new season, these are the tips to follow.