Tex Talk

Japanese re-writing of the dress code

p s sundar

When this columnist tried to find out if he could go wearing plain shirt rather than the formal suit to address a hot summer forenoon meeting ending with lunch of select businessmen in Tokyo, the feedback was not so encouraging. Having experienced the need to wear a formal suit in Korea and Japan for all sorts of meetings in all weathers, this columnist was familiar with the obsession these Asian countries had for suits, ties and shoes for men. But given the discomfort such a dress had on hot summer days, the attempt was to find out if convenience could be considered. That's why, recently, the advice of the Japanese government to its country men to go for casual wears to the extent possible attracted huge attention. It was a case not of the government showing the utmost concern to the comfortable dressing pattern of the country's men, but of it wanting to save energy in running the air conditioners. Japan is worried at its mounting power consumption this summer.

Besides, the heavy use of air conditioning is causing environmental problems through global warming. Given the reality that it was at Kyoto in Japan that the environmentalists agreed to take steps to halt global warming, now, the Japanese government is keen to lead the world from the front with such measures. So, it is asking the companies not to keep the air conditioners lower than 28 degrees Celsius. But, this is too hot for the formally dressed executives. To beat their complaint, the Japanese government is now coming out with advice for new dress code that would make the executives comfortable. So, it is not the textile ministry which is talking about the dress now, but it is the environment ministry. Recently, the environment minister, Ms Yuriko Koike, called for reviewing the entire approach and said that no one should feel impolite or disrespectful if he wears a casual dress. In other words, the executives should change to weather-friendly clothes. This would also mean showing respect to environment. She posed for photographs wearing a red causal shirt with patterns of tropical flowers and birds. To add spice to this, the chief cabinet secretary, Mr Hiroyuki Hosoda, created a history by attending his regular press meet without his tie and jacket. Known to be a conservative dress follower and to hold an obsession for suit, when Mr Hosoda appeared in casual wear, the message spread across that the Japanese prime minister is keen to re-write the dress code for formal meetings. Once this happens, the executives will also turn to a new dress code that would result in environment-friendliness in Japan, it is claimed. But, the environment ministry has also come out with some acceptable dress codes. For this, it has chosen the assistance of a big garment department store. The result is the production of a pictorial catalogue to prescribe the fashion for casual wear for the different age groups. But, the emphasis is on shirts with firm collars. There are hints when to tuck a shirt, how to keep a pocket handkerchief, where to place purse, business cards and pen, etc. Shrewd textile businessmen have caught on this new fashion already. They have packed their shops with casual wears which could be accepted as formal wears. When Mr Bill Clinton, the former US president visited the hot belts of Ngapattinam in Tamil Nadu during the peak summer last month, the district collector, Dr Radhakrishnan was seen wearing double-breast jacket with tie against his usual dress of shirt. Mr Clinton, however, was in a red T-shirt. So even when conservative countries are re-writing their dress code, a causal country like India need not get obsessed with irrelevant pattern of dressing. Re-writing the dress code makes more sense now.