Hottest new Scottish designers to visit Japan

With Japan fast becoming a major market for fashion, the emerging designers and Scottish companies are looking to reach new customers in Japan and tap into its growing fashion textiles market. £6.8 billion is spent on imported fashion products and figures show that in 2006 £54.8 million worth of fashion exports went from the UK to Japan indicating the scale of the opportunity for Scottish companies.

Scottish Development International, a joint venture between Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, is helping Scottish textile companies and designers take advantage of such opportunities and reach new international audiences.  ‘From Scotland with Love’ is a specially created event that will enable the designers to showcase their range of high quality, cutting edge designs to Japanese fashion trade and consumer audiences.

Under the initiative, a series of events has been planned including an exhibition at Omotesando Hills, in association with the British Embassy in Tokyo.  The exhibition will include a dazzling fashion show from the Scottish designers and a number of Designer Master Classes, where they will talk in depth about their latest collections and the Scottish influences behind them. There will also be an extended Master Class which will feature timeless and classic Scottish Tweeds as well as a special presentation on Harris Tweed.

Additionally, Scottish Development International will participate in the interiors show, 100 per cent Design, exhibiting products made in collaboration between Scottish manufacturers and designers.  Around 70,000 visitors ranging from consumers, students, buyers, the media and brands are expected to visit the event in Ayoyama which takes place between 30 October and 3 November.

As part of the event Bute Fabrics will feature an exciting new boucle fabric developed specifically for world renowned furniture designer Tom Dixon and distinguished brand Johnston’s Cashmere, based in Hawick will show a collection of throws developed with interior designer Suzy Hoodless.

James Sugden, Group Managing Director of Johnstons’ Cashmere and Chairman of the Scottish Textiles Industry Association, added  “This is an excellent opportunity for Scottish textile manufacturing companies to work with creative and exciting designers to showcase Scotland’s high quality and versatile textiles on a global scale.”

Frank Boyland, Director, Scottish Development International Asia Pacific said:

“Japan is an extremely important market for Scotland and Tokyo Design Week presents the ideal opportunity for Scottish manufacturers and new design talent to meet with key people from the industry to deepen relationships and understanding of the Japanese fashion market.

“From Scotland with Love is a unique concept as it combines the expertise of Scottish manufacturers in producing high quality products, with the latest collections from contemporary designers whose work is very sought after in the high-end fashion industry.  By working together on winning collaborations they are promoting the wealth of talent and expertise that exists in Scotland’s fashion and textiles industry, attracting new buyers from Japan.”

The full list of collaborations is:

Fashion

• Alexanders Cloth Weavers with Jamie Bruski Tetsill, Scott Ramsay Kyle

• Ardalanish Organic Mill with Jeremy Law Leather and Iona Crawford

• Begg Scotland with Aimee McWilliams

• Breanish Tweed with Sandra Murray

• Calzeat with OLANIC, Deryck Walker

• EMB Knitwear with Jamie Bruski Tetsill

• Mac Millan with Glasgow School of Art Centre for Advanced Textiles

• Harris Tweed Textiles with Lusmilla McColl

• Harris Tweed Hebrides with Deryck Walker

• Holland and Sherry with Deryck Walker, Vidler and Nixon

• Harris Tweed Crofters with Joey D

• Kearse and Boys Knitwear with Jo Storie

• Lochcarron with OLANIC, Tartan Spirit, Mina Perhonen

• Mackintosh with OLANIC

• MYB Fabrics with Jonathan Anderson

• Be baroque with Norreys

• Robert Mackie Knitwear with Jo Gordon, Nicola McGhee

• Robert Noble Fabrics with Graeme Armour

• Todd & Duncan Cashmere Spinners with Cameron Taylor, Hilary Rohde, Graeme Black

Interiors

• Ardlanish Organic Mill and Jeremy Law Leather with Iona Crawford

• Begg Scotland with Tait and Style

• Bute Fabrics with Tom Dixon

• Calzeat Fabrics with Timorous Beasties

• Dovecot Studios with Chris Clyne, Jamie Bruski Tetsill

• Johanna Basford with Glasgow School of Art Centre for Advanced Textiles

• Harris Tweed Hebrides with Graven Images

• Johnston’s Cashmere with Suzy Hoodless

• MYB Textiles with Timorous Beasties

• ROAM with Suzanne Martin

• Turnberry Carpets with The Rug Design Company

Other Participants

• Eribe

• Alice Palmer

• Shirley Pinder

• Joyce Young

  Photograph:

  Photographer : Wes Kingston
  Garment designers: Deryck Walker with Holland and Sherry / Olanic with Calzeat and Co / Graeme Armour with Robert Noble and Co Ltd

  Scottish Development International

  Scottish Development International (SDI) is a government-funded organisation which helps overseas businesses tap into Scotland’s key strengths in knowledge, high level skills, technology and innovation. SDI also works to help Scottish companies do more business overseas and to promote Scotland as a good place to live and work. It is jointly operated by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. Its work is guided by the Scottish Government’s strategy for economic development in Scotland. www.sdi.co.uk