Development of High-Value-Added Functional Products and SPA Products, and a Global Production System

「At DIFFERENCE, its order-only brand, the first store of the next-generation made-to-order suit brand FUTURE SUIT TECHNOLOGY, which uses AI and digital technologies, was opened in the northern Kanto region last December. The Company subsequently steadily increased the number of stores, seeking to reach regions and customer segments it had previously been unable to serve.」

「At “Konaka-Futata,” the “Hyo-Geki FREEZE TECH Shirt,” featuring cooling technology, was supported by many customers as a business shirt for getting through the extreme summer heat. Through the “Econaka Futatabi” project, which promotes the collection and recycling of clothing, the company also advanced efforts to realize a sustainable society by reducing environmental impact.」

「At “SUIT SELECT,” new coordinating items such as blouses, pumps and bags, in addition to women’s suits from the “SUIT SELECT×Samantha Thavasa” collaboration project with Samantha Thavasa Japan Limited, were well received by young customers entering the workforce.」

「To address growing demand for made-to-order products, the company opened a new overseas production base, reducing lost sales opportunities by stabilizing lead times and expanding production capacity.」

「At “Konaka-Futata,” dress-up styles such as suits with waistcoats and the new women’s brand “NATURAL BEAUTY” were well received by young customers entering the workforce, enabling the company to increase customer numbers while maintaining the average spend per customer. At “SUIT SELECT,” strengthening store staffing increased opportunities to recommend the pattern-order “AI SPEED ORDER” to young customers entering the workforce, contributing to a higher average spend per customer. At “DIFFERENCE,” the company expanded production capacity, including by opening a new overseas production base ahead of the recruiting season. As a result, it reduced lost sales opportunities and secured sales above the previous year.」

「As a new initiative at “Konaka-Futata,” the company launched the women’s brand “NATURAL BEAUTY,” themed around natural, beautiful clothing, and it has been well received. At “SUIT SELECT,” customer traffic increased as foot traffic recovered, while a sustainable collaboration with Sarutahiko Coffee, ready-made suits using premium fabrics and “AI SPEED ORDER” performed well, raising the average unit price and improving the gross margin.」

「At the made-to-order specialist DIFFERENCE, the company will further develop and diversify its overseas production bases while once again strengthening the domestic production infrastructure that has traditionally been a core strength.」

「In the fashion business, against a backdrop of recovering demand for suits, “Konaka-Futata” launched the “Cool Vest” and “Cool Neckerchief” as new Cool Biz styles, which have been well received. “SUIT SELECT” steadily reviewed its store network, including new openings in Kadoma and reopened stores in Odawara and Tsudanuma. At “DIFFERENCE,” the company began selling the “JAPAN FUKUSHIMA WOOL Made-to-Order Suit,” Japan’s first suit made entirely from domestic wool, by making effective use of raw wool from sheep raised for meat to support the development of Fukushima Prefecture’s sheep-farming industry. It also provided official suit sets to “Nadeshiko Japan” (the Japan women’s national soccer team), working to maintain and enhance brand value.」

「At “Konaka-Futata,” the 70th-anniversary commemorative “ULTRA MOVE 7WAY Suit” continued to be well received, while three-piece suits and individual waistcoats performed well during the recruiting-season campaign. At “SUIT SELECT,” the premium products “1st NAVY SUIT” and “1st BLACK SUIT,” featuring actor Sakurai Kaito (櫻井 海音), were a major hit.」

「In the year marking the company’s 70th anniversary, “Konaka-Futata” adopted “Dress Up! Japan!” as its annual slogan and began rolling out product planning and campaigns tailored to changing lifestyles, including the “ULTRA MOVE 7WAY Suit,” which can be styled in 7 ways from a single suit. These initiatives have been well received.」

「Supported by growth in the made-to-order suit market during this period, the company’s made-to-order business has led the improvement in performance. At “DIFFERENCE,” it continued stable supply by leveraging its domestic production infrastructure, expanded into department stores, particularly in areas where it had no stores, and increased sales of premium fabrics, thereby raising the average spend per customer while attracting new customers.」

「At “Konaka Menswear,” “Futata Menswear” and “SUIT SELECT,” formalwear performed well as demand for weddings, funerals and other formal occasions recovered. At “DIFFERENCE,” the company held a fair featuring Italy-made premium fabrics from Ermenegildo Zegna, successfully capturing demand for high quality, increasing the number of new customers and raising the average spend per customer.」

「Demand for the made-to-order business centered on “DIFFERENCE” remains strong. The “7DAYS ORDER” service, which uses the domestic production infrastructure established by the company to enable delivery in as little as one week, was well received by customers who prioritize delivery before events. The “AI SPEED ORDER” pattern-order service offered by “SUIT SELECT” also gained traction among young customers entering the workforce because of its clarity and simplicity.」

「The company opened “SUIT SELECT online order,” a dedicated channel through which customers can easily purchase the popular “AI Speed Order Suit” online, enhancing customer convenience. At “DIFFERENCE,” it also approached new customers, including those preparing for coming-of-age ceremonies or job searches, and women, while increasing sales of the highly scarce, original premium-quality “LIMITED WOOL PREMIUM” fabric and luxury imported fabrics, including Ermenegildo Zegna.」

「The made-to-order suit market continued to expand steadily. In addition to opening DIFFERENCE stores in department stores, the “AI SPEED ORDER” pattern-order service launched by “SUIT SELECT” in September of the previous year gained traction and became established among customers.」

「The company launched products suited to the new normal, including the “RBC Cool Biz Pack,” “RBC Work Suit” and “Casual Suit,” while enhancing its custom-order and pattern-order offerings. It steadily captured resilient demand for made-to-order apparel from both men and women and maintained the average spend per customer.」

「In the core fashion business, “Konaka Menswear” and its consolidated subsidiary Samantha Thavasa Japan Limited jointly developed and launched the “Ultimate Ladies’ Suit” and “Invincible Bag” in January. Both were well received, helping the company tap demand from women, particularly female university students. Orders for pattern-made suits through “AI SPEED ORDER” also remained steady. Together with DIFFERENCE, the custom-order format that is expanding its customer base, these initiatives enabled the company to steadily capture growing demand for made-to-order suits.」

「The company pursued a range of initiatives to capture growing demand for made-to-order products, and at “SUIT SELECT” sought to expand the user base for the “AI SPEED ORDER” service launched in September.」

「As one of its strategic initiatives for the future, the company also launched the “AI SPEED ORDER” service, which uses an AI automatic-measurement app to enable made-to-order suits to be delivered in as little as 10 days.」

「The company also launched the “Washable 3D Mask” made from dress-shirt fabric and the new workwear line “RBC Real Business Casual,” designed to accommodate telework.」

「Fit House operates a retail business selling shoes, bags and fashion accessories, mainly in the Tokai region. In light of consumers’ current preference for lower prices, shifting its business model from selling high-priced products centered on established overseas brands to developing and selling high-margin private-label products using the specialty-store retailer of private-label apparel (SPA) system had become an important challenge for future growth.」

「The “Ultra Move Series” and “4S Series,” which pursue ease of movement and easy-care functionality to the fullest, performed steadily, and sales of the new “ULTRA MOVE MIZUNO model” line-up also began.」

「In the fashion business, “Konaka Menswear” performed well with the “Ultra Move Series” and the “Ultra Move Mizuno Model,” a jointly developed suit with Mizuno Corporation launched as a new line-up, while “SUIT SELECT” performed well with products such as the “4S Suit,” offering ultimate stretch functionality and easy care.」

「In the core fashion business, business-related products such as the “Ultra Move Series” and “4S Series,” which pursue ease of movement and easy-care functionality to the fullest, were very well received.」

「For the “Ultra Move Series” and “4S Series,” which are designed around ease of movement and a stress-free fit, the company expanded the product range from suits to shirts and slacks and strengthened sales.」

「In the core fashion business, cold-weather apparel such as coats faced a difficult selling season because of the warm winter, but business-related products performed steadily, including three-piece suits suitable for bridal occasions and the “Ultra Move Suit” and “4S Suit,” which pursue ease of movement and easy-care functionality to the fullest.」

「In the core fashion business, business-related products performed steadily, including the function-focused new “4S” suits and dress shirts designed for comfort and easy care, and three-piece suits suitable for bridal demand, while cold-weather winter apparel such as coats struggled significantly because of the warm winter.」

「In the core fashion business, the company strengthened sales of the new “Ultra Wash Suit,” which can be washed in a fully automatic washing machine, and the functional dress shirt “Oil Guard” for the midsummer season, but the selling season was difficult, partly because consumers held back from purchasing suits during the Cool Biz season.」

「At “Konaka Menswear” and “Futata Menswear,” sales of “REAL COLLECTION” suits made from high-quality New Zealand wool performed well. At “SUIT SELECT,” sales volumes grew steadily for strongly trend-oriented tapered suits and comfortable commuter suits developed for the Sports Agency’s “FUN+WALK Project.”」

「In the core fashion business, suits performed steadily, including the “Real Collection Suit” made from high-quality New Zealand wool, trend-conscious tapered suits, and made-to-order suits from the new “DIFFERENCE” format, while cold-weather apparel such as coats struggled.」

「In the core fashion business, we strengthened sales of REAL COLLECTION SUIT made with New Zealand wool for midsummer and functional dress shirts suitable for Cool Biz.」

「At "Konaka Men's Wear" and "Futata Men's Wear," we responded quickly to customer needs, with the "REAL COLLECTION" series using high-quality New Zealand wool becoming a hit product after receiving strong customer support.」

「Businesswear products that performed well, including the "Real Collection Suit" made with high-quality raw New Zealand wool and made-to-measure suits launched with the new business format "DIFFERENCE"」

「Our product lines using our proprietary SPA (specialty retailer of private-label apparel) system, which manages every process in-house from sourcing materials, spinning and weaving through sewing and in-store sales, performed well. In particular, the high-quality New Zealand wool suit "REAL NAVY COLLECTION," which was well received by customers, became a hit product and contributed to higher suit sales, sales per item and sales per customer.」

「We are working to establish a global product production system for the development of high-value-added functional products, SPA products and other products.」