The Japanese apparel industry is
estimated to be around 16 billion yen, out of which the men's garment
segment constitutes nearly 30 % of the total market. The country has one
of the biggest garment industries in the world.
The men's apparel industry in Japan is different than the apparel
industry in other countries in the sense that manufacturers in Japan
produce garments meeting the current fashion trends. Other countries
like America and EU sell products that are in sync with the image they
want their company to project.
The garment industry in Japan underwent shrinking in the 1990s as a
result of decreasing consumer incomes and also an excess of cheap
imports. Asa result the men's wear market also witnessed a shrink. The
men's wear segment witnessed the sharpest decline as compared to women's
wear and kids wear. With the rise in incomes in the early 2000s the
industry has been witnessing an increased demand of men's wear.
Companies are trying to increase the sales by changing their
merchandising policies, adapting to market and fashion changes and also
effectively managing inventory.
The country is the largest manufacturer and sourcing region for apparel
machinery and spare parts in Asia. China is fast becoming the largest
hub for sourcing apparel machinery and spare parts at lower rates as
compared to Japan.
Structure of Garment Industry
The entire process of garment designing, production and sales is done
by the manufacturers, and also focus on managing and controlling the
flow right from production to retailing. These manufacturers also act as
wholesalers and are actively involved in raw materials purchasing,
designing etc.
Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Yano Research
Institute
Imports
Japan imports nearly 80% of total imports from China. Other countries
include USA, EU and other Asian countries In the last few years, China
has been looking at Japan as a potential retail market for its clothes.
The country's proximity to Japan also makes this a lucrative venture.
