Appeal of Women's Belts
We predict women's fashion trends for belt making

Japanese fashion has a wide range of styles from elegant fashion to Shibuya-Harajuku Street fashion that evolved in a unique way. In those styles, women's belts play an important supporting role as a spice for clothing.

The most important thing to a belt production is to create a good coordination with clothing, so belt designers always pay attention to the latest trend in Tokyo and new collections in the world. Predicting the rapid-changing Japanese market and reading consumers' attitudes are necessary to improve a sense of design and a planning ability so as to avoid making unsold goods.

Companies who could survive in Japan had been enhancing their creative capabilities even in cooperation with garment designers who were not familiar with coordinates with belts.

Western-style belt production in Japan was started about 130 years ago, at the period of the capital city changing from Edo to Tokyo, and the time of beginning of modernization. Then, companies that had made suspenders and garter belts started to manufacture artificial leather belts about 100 years ago. These companies became specialized and established as a belt company.

Although a mass production based on the division of labor is a mainstream production system in Asian countries, craftsmen in Japan take charge of the whole process by oneself. This method brings well-balanced better products because a craftsman can imagine the finished figure of the product as s/he is making it. However, it is said that it takes at least ten years to become a professional. So many skills are needed in belt making in Japan.

Even though belts are made in any countries, every country has characteristic in manufacturing. For example, since western paintings and sculptures are seen from a certain distance, they are superb in overall balance of designs. On the other hand, Japanese paintings and architecture are connected with living, so they are made carefully and precisely in view of usability. So is a belt-making. Quality inspections, for example, are strictly conducted thoroughly in Japan. An aesthetic sense, designing ability and such a detailed quality-control will be a strong merit in the global competition.

Domestic belts companies are grouped in Asakusa area in Tokyo. There are many tanners, metal processing craftsmen and leather wholesalers in this area; Asakusa is an ideal place for leather production. Many of Japanese unique cultures were generated in 250 years of peaceful Edo period, and even the common people enjoyed elegant gracious life at that time. Craftsmen of those luxury accessories and tools used in that era were concentrated in Asakusa, and the traditions are handed down to today's belt craftsmen.

Recently, designs using Ukiyoe and Chinese characters became popular in America and Europe. Maple Co.,ltd. will showcase three kinds of belts in this year's APLF; each features Japanese traditional motifs of "Japanese sword", "Chinese characters" and "Sharaku (an Ukiyoe artist)".

Participating companies in the Japan booth in this year's APLF have enthusiasm toward sales expansion. All companies are aiming to expand their businesses to Hong Kong and China by starting with APLF.

Mr. Mitsunobu Sugimoto
President of Maple Co.,ltd.
Tokyo Yoso-Zakka Industry Association

Appeal of Men's Belts
Best quality belt as a symbol of success

In Japan, there was once a custom that a company sent a belt to the employees to celebrate their promotions. Belts were a symbol of success like a Sumo wrestlers' loincloth or a championship belt in boxing.

Also, belts were a popular gift on Father's Day, because belts had a special meaning in Japan.

That's why department stores had requested belt manufactures to make the best quality belts with the best technique.

One-size-fits-all belts were also created so that gifts could fit to any body types of receivers.

Many Japanese belt manufactures entrust the production of low-priced belts to overseas production, however, high-end products are made by domestic skilled craftsmen. Made-in-Japan products are unique in having delicate and detailed work without making any scratches. In the case of products with edge turn, the overlapped parts are carefully thinned in both the face and back sides to eliminate the bumps. This way increases processes but the finished products are beautiful. Other processes such as burnishing on the edge are also carefully done. All manufacturing is done with consideration for gift senders and receivers.

On the day I visited SHIN-EI co., ltd, a belt, which was used for 20 years, arrived at the company for repair. Only skilled craftsmen can repair such a beloved belt comfortably fitting to the owner's body.

SHIN-EI also deals in crocodile skins and ostrich skins. Unlike shoe manufacturing, available parts of leather for belt-making are limited. Usually two belts can be made from one crocodile. A belt needs about 2.2 meters of length; making two belts uses 50% of the material, and other half becomes waste.

Expensive crocodile skins are usually jointed to make materials longer, and a certain amount of skill is needed to hide these joint lines.

There is a technique called "Musou" which uses crocodile skin in both face and back sides without showing joint lines. This requires experience in treating exotic leather and manufacturing know-how as well.

Also, there are elastic belts using rubber cores called "LIVE BELT". Your waist size varies by around 3cm between when you sit and when you stand, but this belt comfortably fits your waist even when you sit. This is appreciated by middle-aged and older people as a comfortable belt. This belt is also suitable for golfing slacks. The company is now aiming to capture a golfing market which is rising in Asian countries.

The president, Mr. Morikawa, expressed his willingness to participate to APLF by saying, "Some people say Japanese are good at manufacturing, but weak at planning. I think this exhibition in Hong Kong is a good opportunity to show our proposal-based products and to hear response from overseas buyers."

Mr. Masao Morikawa
President of Shin-ei Co.ltd.
Japanese Clothes Belt Industry Association

FASHION INNOVATION by LEATHER GOODS, with LEATHER PRODUCER eternity
eternity Co.,ltd. (Bags, Belts, Leather goods)

"KILLSHOT" is the company's own brand offering popular products that are easy to coordinate with any outfits. The company adds "Vintage-look" on the products and the designs will never make you get bored.

The company's "vintage-look" adding process is applied not only to leather materials but metal parts too. These processes are rusting and baking, shrinking, grinding, "shot-finish", etc.

Such innovative products were generated from the company's bold challenges to new techniques in the last 50 years. Customers highly appreciate the company's fashionable, detailed products.

"eternity" focuses on quality and freshness of design, so the company's top priority is to provide salable products to the market earlier than others. The company owns factories both in the country and overseas to meet customers' needs.

"eternity" is grateful for work with leather products, and will keep up a challenge spirit to give satisfaction to our customers.

Company name: eternity Co.,ltd.
Address: 2-32-7 SENZOKU, TAITO-KU, TOKYO, 111-0031, JAPAN
CEO: HIDEYUKI GOTO (Mr.)
Department in charge: TRADE DIV.
Person in charge: JEE SOK, PARK (Mr.)
Tel: +81-3-3872-2351
Fax: +81-3-3872-2391
Email: info@go-eternity.com
park@go-eternity.com
URL: http://www.go-eternity.com

Well-selected genuine leather and well-developed skill
IWASAKI Co.,ltd. (Belts)

IWASAKI, founded in 1919, participates in APLF in this year of marking its 90th anniversary.

Since its establishment, the company has been consistently using genuine leather to create valuable products. IWASAKI imports highly-selected leather materials from more than ten different countries including Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Holland to use the best suited leather for each product. The company's concept in manufacturing is to take advantage of skills and delicacy that had been cultivated for the last 90 years to make products which ensure customer satisfaction.

Now, IWASAKI handles OEM products of world's famous brands at own factories in Nagano in Japan, Dongguan in China and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. All three factories have obtained many international certifications.

Since the company's Japanesque sense and delicate manufacturing techniques are recognized by the world brands, its production has been growing. About 660 operators in the three factories are making three million belts per year in total. Furthermore, in 2008, IWASAKI launched "Dongguan Iwasaki Leather Goods Company Limited" in Dongguan, China, so now the company can sell the products directly in China.

"Want to send Japanese sense to people in China!" From this message, IWASAKI started a brand "QOQORO".

Company name: IWASAKI Co.,ltd.
Address: 1-2-8 IMADO, TAITO-KU, TOKYO, 111-0024, JAPAN
CEO: SHINTARO TAKAGI (Mr.)
Department in charge: OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT
Person in charge: TAKAHIRO HAYASHI (Mr.)
Tel: +81-3-3874-2136
Fax: +81-3-3874-2130
Email: overseas@iwasaki-belt.co.jp
URL: http://www.iwasaki-belt.co.jp/

We accept from orders of a unit of one
MAPLE Co.,ltd. (Belts, Handbags, Leather goods)

As a planning & manufacturing company, MAPLE hires designers of belts and handbags to make products responding to customers' needs. Sale destination is mostly first-rate wholesalers for department stores, specialty stores and OEM based business.

The company's own brand "Cattarin MARION", an American sport brand, mainly offers belts, and another brand "Quaintry" offers casual wear for young people.

MAPLE is willing to challenge a difficult design if it is for customers. The company has a lot of techniques such as pleating for soft leather, saddle-finishing on a belt making, folding with a rubber tape, and elegant finishing. The company accepts sample-makings with short lead time. It always aims to make a beautifully finished product.

MAPLE's technique and designing abilities are highly evaluated and won the award in belt category at JLIA Leather Award in 2007. MAPLE keeps up a good work with a dream and richness in mind.

The company will showcase belts featuring Japanese tradition, Kabuki and Sharaku, at APLF this year.

Company name: MAPLE Co.,ltd.
Address: #602, 2-5-12 NISHI-WASEDA, SHINJUKU-KU, TOKYO, 169-0051, JAPAN
CEO: MITSUNOBU SUGIMOTO (MR.)
Tel: +81-3-3200-3916
Fax: +81-3-3200-3917
Email: mitsunobu.sugimoto@maple-tokyo.com

Manufacturing of genuine products
SHIN-EI Co.,ltd. (Belts, Leather goods)

SHIN-EI is a manufacturing company of belts and leather goods. It employs a continuous production system and handles product planning, manufacturing, wholesale and sales. SHIN-EI has adhered to a conscientious attitude toward manufacturing since the company was established in 1948. Its delicate and precise work is recognizable just by looking at the products. The company retains many experienced specialists of reptile leather or other leathers, and that is a great merit the company gained from its history of 62 years.

Especially a processing of crocodile leather, one of the high-end materials, is the company's forte.

Its domestic production system allows the company to handle small-lot production with short lead time.

SHIN-EI keeps producing a wide range of products by integrating long experiences into new sense of designing.

The company's main brand, "KNOT", offers high-quality products carefully created with highly-selected materials in view of long-term use. Another brand, "MERCER", offers plenty of color variations under its concept of "Adult casual with playful mind".

The company exhibits these two brands of casual wear and formal wear in this year's APLF. Please come and see SHIN-EI's techniques and sophisticated designs.

Company name: SHIN-EI Co.,ltd.
Address: 5-54-4 ASAKUSA, TAITO-KU, TOKYO, 111-0032, JAPAN
CEO: MASAO MORIKAWA (Mr.)
Person in charge: NAOTO OGITA (Mr.)
Tel: 03-3874-6421
FAX: 03-3874-6424
Email: info@shinei-belt.com
URL: http://shinei-belt.com