Japanese brand Gunze makes foray into UAE
Move by ITL Cosmos fills lucrative gap in the premium innerwear market
The consul-general of Japan in Dubai, Dr Akima Umezawa, inaugurated the debut retail endeavour by Gunze, an apparel giant headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, in partnership with the iconic UAE enterprise, ITL Cosmos Group, at the Etihad Mall in Dubai on September 19.
Leading Japanese textile manufacturers have been exporting fabric to the region since 1960. In spite of their popularity, no premium Japanese innerwear brands had a local presence in the market.
To fill this gap, ITL Cosmos Group has now introduced Gunze (a renowned producer ■ of innerwear and hosiery in Japan) in association with Sojitz Corporation, one of Japan’s leading global investment and trading houses, to showcase high-quality innerwear to the affluent consumers here.
At the ceremony, one moment that pleasantly surprised the audience, which among others comprised senior Japanese officials, trade diplomats and corporate decision-makers, was when the most senior Japanese official in Dubai referred to Dr Ram Buxani, chairman of ITL Cosmos Group, as his mentor, guide and an iconic inspiration, as he went on to speak in detail about some of his pioneering accomplishments.
Dr Buxani later presented a memento of appreciation to the consul-general, according to a statement.