Amidst a continuing headwind of a weak yen, high raw material and logistics costs, and a shrinking domestic apparel market, we delve into the "qualitative changes" quietly underway in the textile trading industry.

Textile trading companies, once characterized by terms like "taikai-kei" (highly competitive, sports-club-like) and "mouretsu" (intense), are transforming their human resource composition from a male-dominated, uniform structure to a diverse one. What's required is not just sales prowess, but the ability to conceive new businesses, understand sustainability and regulations, and compete internationally. It's not about abandoning the vigor of the "taikai-kei" culture, but grafting onto it the new strength of diversity. We analyze the transformation of each company through the lens of human resources.

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In "4 Topics to Understand Textile Trading Companies," we take a deep dive into the current state of the industry, starting with an "Industry Map" that provides an overview of 16 leading textile trading companies. The perennial feature "A Manager's Job" explores "how to work at a trading company and the reality of the apparel industry" through interviews with six managers who hold significant authority, akin to division commanders. Interviews with top executives are also substantial. Seven presidents—from Chori, Toyoshima, Stylem Takisada Osaka, Moririn, Yagi, Takisada Nagoya, and Takihyo—share their insights on industry consolidation, active investment in supply chains, global strategies, and work style reform and human resource development.

Furthermore, the cover of this issue features a title created with embroidery. The base fabric is a hand-woven textile of mud-dyed pre-dyed cotton yarn by Enfant Terrible in Hachioji, Tokyo, and the embroidery was handled by Kasamori in Kiryu, which has produced unprecedented products like spherical embroidery.

From overseas news, we report on an exhibition at the local fashion museum (MoMu, until January 17, 2027) celebrating the 40th anniversary of the "Antwerp Six." The issue also includes a feature analyzing the structure of domestic sports manufacturers earning revenue overseas, based on their fiscal 2025 results, and a special report on the Indian beauty market, where investment from global giants is accelerating.

Our long-running feature "Fashion & Beauty Patrol" is also a special edition for textile trading companies this time. Guided by two "Chori Persons" knowledgeable about Hokuriku, a world-leading synthetic textile production area, we visited prominent regional companies.

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CONTENTS

FEATURE

・From "Taikai-kei" to Diversity: The Qualitative Change in Textile Trading Companies Has Begun THE TRADERS—Frontlines of Trading

FOCUS

・Estée Lauder, Unilever, L'Oréal Accelerate Investment in Growth Potential: The Golden Age Dawns for the Indian Beauty Market

・Beyond the "Antwerp Six": Demonstrating a Unique Presence Distinct from Paris & Milan Why Does Antwerp Remain a "Mecca of Fashion"?

・Main Battlegrounds in Asia and Europe/America: Overseas Revenue Ratio Rises Domestic Sports Manufacturers Earn Overseas

SERIES

・OVERSEAS NEWS A Compilation of Translated Articles from "WWD" U.S.: "Moschino," "Sunnei" Appoint Founding Duo as New Creative Directors, and More

EDITORS’ LETTER

・The Highly Noticed Popular Salon "Assort" (Keijiro Nakamura / Salon Content Producer)

EDITORIAL NOTE

・Editor's Postscript This Week's Feature Delivery Team: For Women to Continue Working in Textile Trading Companies (Tatsuaki Yokoyama / Head Reporter, Hanae Ito / Editorial Department Reporter)

FASHION&BEAUTY PATROL

・Chori Persons Who Know Hokuriku Inside Out Guide the Way: Textile Journey in Ishikawa

(COVER CREDIT) EMBROIDERY : YOICHI KATAKURA (KASAMORI) TEXTILE : SHOZO HARADA (ENFANT-TERRIBLE) PHOTO : ISEKI (TRIVAL) ART DIRECTION & DESIGN : SUGURU NAGAHASHI

About "WWDJAPAN"

"WWDJAPAN," the Japanese edition of "WWD (Women's Wear Daily)" founded by Fairchild in 1910, is a specialized trade paper for the fashion industry, packed with the latest information including business and trend news in the fashion and beauty industries, as well as interviews with industry professionals. Additionally, the web version of the weekly paper "WWDJAPAN Weekly," titled "WWDJAPAN Digital," offers cutting-edge information that resonates with consumers keenly interested in fashion and beauty, covering not only domestic and international fashion & beauty industry news but also collection looks, party and street snaps, art, media, and lifestyle information.

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: ビジネス