Technical legwear in demand in Japan
30/09/2011
Speaking at the Invista Fiber Moves event in Barcelona on September 29, designer Seiya Saito explained that the Japanese legwear market was worth $7.8 billion a year. He said that Japanese women have a keen fashion sense, but like to wear skirts and dresses more than women in other developed markets, which means they need legwear too.
Mr Saito said leggings that retain heat had become very popular after the Fukushima plant closed following the earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan in March. Energy supply has been affected and technical clothing that can help consumers stay warm is making an impression on the market.
The designer went on to say that Japan’s own production of legwear had reduced from 240 million pairs in 2006 to only 157 million in 2010. Consumption, however, has remained consistently high and the country is currently importing 1.2 billion pairs a year.
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