The manufacturing site of the windfall. Made in Japan, which now accounts for less than 3% of clothing in circulation

The manufacturing site of the windfall
Made in Japan, which now accounts for less than 3% of clothing in circulation

It has been said that the fashion industry has been in the distribution process for too long.

The finished product usually goes from the factory to the trading company, to the apparel company, and then to the retailer, who spends money on shows, advertising, and other expenses.

Another characteristic of this industry is its long history of sales supremacy, in which companies have competed for sales in short cycles, resulting in a strong tendency toward low prices and low margins. As a matter of course, they demand low prices from subcontract OEM factories. This has led to factories demanding large lots and producing more than they can sell, which in turn leads to a large number of leftover products.

The cost of manufacturing in Japan, where prices and wages are higher than in developing countries, has become expensive. This has forced many apparel companies to outsource production to overseas factories where production costs are lower, or to relocate factories overseas, forcing many domestic factories to close. The percentage of clothing made in Japan is now less than 3%. Craftsmen are losing their jobs and the manufacturing skills that have been cultivated over the years are also being lost. Japanese manufacturing is in a state of limbo.

Knit-making is said to be an endangered species, but we must do everything we can to continue the valuable skills handed down from our predecessors.