We’ll visit India again, say Japanese fashion designers

The 12th edition of the Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo that was to take place from March 18 to March 25 now stands cancelled, in the wake of the devastation in Japan first by the earthquake, then the tusnami and later, the nuclear explosions, even though Tokyo was not directly hit.

The delegation of designers from Japan, who put up a successful show at the just concluded Lakme Fashion Week on Friday, the very day the tsunami struck Japan, were also scheduled to show at the JFW. 

Shigeki Tanaka told After Hrs that the fashion week in Japan was cancelled, “considering the planned suspension of the electricity supply, the confusion of the transportation network and the safety of the guests.”

The fashion week, he says will now be replaced with exhibitions to match business opportunities for the designers who were to show at the venue. Shigeki says that though the official week has been called off, “each of the brands that planned to participate is going to showcase their collection through various channels such as websites, exhibitions, installations or perhaps individual collections.”

Shigeki says that the three designers Motonari Ono, Tamae Hirokawa and Sara Arai who showed at the LFW returned to Japan with pleasant memories of their stay here. “They (the designers) are interested in India not only as a market, but also in the historical and cultural aspects,” informs Shigeki. 

On a parting note, he adds, “It is a pity that we needed to cancel some part of the events scheduled here but we are sure to come back to India as soon as possible. We want to take forward the relationship we started on the LFW ramp. We wish to enhance and deepen our relationship, after overcome the current situation in Japan."