Interview

Look to domestic production areas!

TexStyleDepots / Naoto Taki, CEO

The business convention Takumi Ten (Master Show) operated by TexStyleDepots turns thespotlight on medium- and small-sized material manufacturers, and bring together top gradedomestic materials. In addition, the company also acts as a ‘producer’ to connect productions areas with designers. Mr. Taki, who has onsite knowledge in this field, has been one who began advocating the importance of domestic production areas from early on.

What are the weaknesses of Japan’s medium- and small-sized material manufacturers?
The intrinsic attractive qualities of materials are not fully conveyed to the apparel industry and designers. In a sense because there is a lack of producers, or bridging agents, who connectproduction areas and designers, and so, the current situation is that neither side can exchangeinformation with the other. The technologies provided by domestic production areas are fantasticand not inferior to Europe in any way. In fact they are winning in that field. I do personally think that designers should make their own decisions on material selection. Recently, we can see some creations specialized in imported materials. I think it’s great having material manufacturers that can make easy-to-understand proposals of what they are good at, while having designers who canpursue materials to be used so that both are with in access. In some production areas they have begun using young people with high sensitivity. It appears that the current situation becomes to change.

In the mean time, what about the original advantage of material manufacturers?
Medium- and small-sized material manufacturers are good at bringing out styles and tastes. By applying subtle feelings and processes to their products, they create fabrics desired by designersand the ‘maisons.’ Except for the high-tech materials that large enterprises (manufacturers of synthetics) specialize in, it is vital for medium- and small-sized manufacturers to have confidencein their own products if they wish to survive. The Takumi Ten operated by our company centersin on originality. To commercialize complicated processes and subtle feelings, and pass theproducts to designers. That’s the forte of medium- and small-sized manufacturers.