Last edited by Horace (2007-02-02 15:59:11)

Katayama, Hiroko's article entitled "Brooks Brothers, beware!:  Kashiyama & Co. acquisition of J. Press Inc," found in   Forbes, April 6 1987, p. 173 may be of interest:  here's an abstract:  "After popularizing the J. Press Ivy League look in Japan, Akira Baba, who bought the venerable clothier from its founder's sons, plans to expand its influence back home in America. He will try to double sales in the United States by branching into women's and children's clothes, sprucing up the three original J. Press shops, and opening new outlets."

Some of those "fresh refinements" may include things that will never sell, no matter how much the price is reduced. Other retailers probably send stuff like this to STP for 2 cents on the $, and write off the loss.

JP has a great opportunity to send this stuff to Japan, and sell it at full mark up to guys that think that these are the latest styles from Trad US.

eg:
Those polyester trousers with the cell phone pocket in the leg probably will be big sellers in Japan, although the cell phone pocket might be positioned at mid calf for the average height of the Tokyo customer.

No doubt, all of the ties from last year, with the large numbers, that didn't sell, were sold in Japan at the full mark up. The 57"tie length may hang at mid fly level, if you're under 5'4", but the customers thought that they were buying the latest trad style from the US, so it must be correct.

Some of you are in Tokyo, and it will be interesting to spot the guys on the street with a lapel pin spelling out TRAD in English. Again, sold to the unsuspecting as the latest style from Trad US.

JP customer, in Japan:
"When I'm in NYC on next business trip, I'll wear my peak lapel DB seersucker jacket, large # tie, polyester trousers, and TRAD lapel pin, and US chicks will know that I am really with it." "It will drive them crazy when my cell phone goes off in my trousers."

Interesting to look at their culture, Terry. It would seem that the Japanese have imported all of their Ivy League clothing knowledge from US, rather than any of it being home grown. Nothing wrong with that. Most of what we now know about the automobile business seems to come from Japan. We are scrambling as hard as we can to duplicate their success.

Back to the point that the Japanese have imported all that you see there regarding TNSIL from US, take a look at the short sleeved suits that made the scene over there last year. No really, short sleeved suits.

No doubt, natural shoulder, no darts, lapped seams, and hooked vents. Nevertheless, genuinely horrid.

When Toyota makes a model that won't sell there, they probably send it to US dealers, and US customers snap them up because we have a high regard for their auto expertise.

Still think that JP and maybe RL can send them stuff that won't sell here, and it moves right out at full mark up.

As in talk around a Tokyo water cooler: " I just learned from my friend Hiro, that JP is expecting a boat load of shoes from JP store in the US". "Be still my heart!"

And again I agree with Matt... !

Ivy League is NOTHING to do with Japan or England, France, Germany, Portugal, South Africa... - It's an import. Something a little different flown in from overseas.

The Japanese know their details... But they're not THEIR details. It all comes from the U.S., that's the point of the style wherever you find it outside America. Part of its appeal is a rejection of home-grown European/Japanese styles.

Would the Japanese buy anything American? I bet some would. Those 'in the know' (Van, Kent, 'Take Ivy' guys) would pick & choose a bit more I'm sure.

So I seem to agree with everyone!

(And Ivy is for ev....)

t.

Matt - Short sleeved suit with long sleeved shirt, cufflinks or not when attending job interviews?

The 'too English' thing is solely to do with me I know.
Other English Ivy fans wear English and American quite happily.
I suppose part of my motivation in wearing Ivy is not just that I love American clothes but that I hate English ones!

I have noticed that the new Bean "mens" catalogue has some oxford button-down shirts.
They offer them in green oxford cloth (along with the usual colours & stripes).
This is a chance to get a few, since Brooks Brothers does not offer them in this colour.
Nor has done so, for a long time I am led to understand.

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