THIS IS MY PARTNER
[RELATED EVENTS - Special]

Japanese designers have transmitted their unique creations and received high acclaim in fashion cities around the world. Behind their creations are the craftsmen of production areas who support the manufacturing process with their advanced techniques. Designers and craftsmen are linked by deep relationships of trust, and the chemistry between them is perfect when making their creations. “THIS IS MY PARTNER” is a project to introduce craftsmen as indispensable partners of designers in their creations.
A total of ten teams of designers, or five teams for each season, will introduce the craftsmen who are their partners in clothes-making using various modes of expression at the collection venues and exhibition venues of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO 2015 S/S to be held this October and the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO 2015-16 A/W to be held in March 2015.

Objective of this project
In recent years, Japanese fashion brands have been highly acclaimed around the world; however, the manufacturers and factories for fabrics, sewing/processing, materials (buttons, lace, ribbons, accessories, etc.) that support these fashion brands and the technical capabilities of the indispensable craftsmen are not known well enough. This project focuses on the craftsmen who are involved in the textile industry. The objective is for the designers participating in the MBFWT to promote the technical capabilities of these talented craftsmen to the world using various expressions.

◆ Activities
MBFWT Official Guidebook Special Edition Issue
Five brands participating in this project will each have an interview article with production companies, which are introduced as important partners to manufacturing, posted in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO Official Guidebook distributed at the official venue and the event venues of related events, etc., each season. It will be published as a special edition.

◆ Launch of the “Production Center Yellow Pages” on the MBFWT Official Website
Gathering various information on production companies within Japan, a “Production Center Yellow Pages” will be established on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week TOKYO Official Website. This project should be beneficial to a wide group of people, from designers searching for factories to students interested in production companies.

◆ Participating brands / PR work introduction
ATSUSHI NAKASHIMA (Designer : ATSUSHI NAKASHIMA)
Partner production company	Daiichi Knit Marketing Co.,Ltd. (Mitsuke City, Niigata Prefecture / Manufacturing and marketing men’s and women’s knitwear)
PR work	Knitted iPhone case with an original design (distributed to visitors) A material which is strong against friction, durable, and less likely to wrinkle has been used to create a woven knit-structure with reasonable stretch with its dense knitted fabric.
Distribution dates / locations	Show: October 15, 2014 / Shibuya HIKARIE Hall A Exhibition: October 18 – 22, 2014 / Shibuya Cultural Center Owada 11th floor Space C (Will only be on display, not distributed, at the exhibition)
"Daiichi Knit Marketing Co.,Ltd. introduced by ATUSHI NAKASHIMA" interview

DISCOVERED (Designer : Tatsuya Kimura / Sanae Yoshida)
Partner production company	Textile Labo co., LTD. (Gifu city, Gifu prefecture / Manufacturing & wholesale business of woolen, cotton, linen and silk textiles)
PR work	Canvas panel board using 2015 S/S original textiles In order to pursue a certain texture for this panel board, the vertical and horizontal placements of the loom were adjusted to create an Afghan stole (keffiyeh) texture woven by a rare dobby loom, which incorporates a ground organization consisting of 24 individual heddles. A screen stencil was created based on the original drawing, and a shirting texture with textile printing applied by hand processing combining the adhesive with the dye was used.
Exhibition dates / locations	Show: October 17, 2014 / Shibuya HIKARIE Hall B (displayed in the foyer before and after the show) Exhibition: October 21 – 24, 2014 / DISCOVERED PRESS ROOM
"Textile Labo co.,LTD. introduced by DISCOVERED" interview

DRESSEDUNDRESSED (Designer : Takeshi Kitazawa / Emiko Sato）
Partner production company	Yamaei Keori Co.,Ltd. (Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture / Manufacturing and marketing woolen textiles)
PR work	MOTION FILM
Exhibition dates / locations	Show: October 16, 2014 / Shibuya HIKARIE Hall B (displayed in the foyer after the show) Exhibition: October 24 – 31, 2014 / GALLERY ABYDOS
MOTION FILM
"Yamaei Keori Co,.Ltd. introduced by DRESSEDUNDRESSED" interview

FACTOTUM (Designer : Koji Udo)
Partner production company	AGITPUNKT (Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture / Manufacturing primarily men’s jeans)
PR work	Rider’s Denim with a 3D processed coating / Specialized hanger The fabrics, sewing, and processing were all completed within Okayama Prefecture. Appearing to have come from actual wear by people, the wrinkles are maintained almost permanently by 3D processing. Development was begun together with a processing plant three years ago in order to achieve this processing technique, with the first debut of the project at this event.
Exhibition dates / locations	Show: October 17, 2014 / Shibuya HIKARIE Hall A (displayed in the foyer before and after the show) (The exhibition has finished)
"AGITPUNKT introduced by FACTOTUM" interview

IN-PROCESS BY HALL OHARA (Designer：Yurika Ohara / Steven Hall)
Partner production company	colormark co., ltd. (Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture / Digital dyeing for fashion accessories (e.g. legwear) and building materials)
PR work	Colormark’s 10th Anniversary Commemorative Limited Edition Print Knit Panel To commemorate the 10th anniversary since the founding of Colormark, a large format panel taking advantage of the maximum print width of 120cm will display a knit material (P70 / A30) printed (digitally stained) with a limited design incorporating the company concepts of Colormark on the IN-PROCESS BY HALL OHARA 2015 S/S main graphic.
Exhibition dates / locations	Show: October 16, 2014 / Shibuya HIKARIE Hall B (displayed in the foyer before and after the show) Exhibition: October 21 – 23, 2014 / Creator’s District ES505
"colormark co. , ltd. introduced by IN-PROCESS BY HALL OHARA" interview

Organizer	Japan Fashion Week Organization
Contact	Japan Fashion Week Organization info@jfw.jp