Scotland's Economy

Big in Japan – the 200 year old Mack

May 10, 2013 by John Swinney MSP No Comments | Category Exports, Investment

Traditional Scottish design becomes an iconic international brand

Almost 200 years on since Scotsman Charles Macintosh invented the process of rubberising cotton, his namesake coat is still one of Scotland’s best known products.

In fact, it’s not only the Scots who have continued their love affair with the ‘mack’. Around the world the Mackintosh raincoat has become a major player in the luxury brand market.

A partnership with Japanese company Yagi Tsusho, which led to the acquisition of Mackintosh, has been a key factor in expanding global sales to the level that they are today.

This is certainly true for Japan, which following the establishment of Mackintosh Japan, welcomed a flagship store in Tokyo in 2012.

Mackintosh coats are very popular with Japanese women and Japan now accounts for 40 per cent of the brand’s global sales.

I visited the Tokyo store today and met with Mr Yozo Yagi, the COO and Marketing Director of Mackintosh Japan. It was inspiring to see the traditional Mackintosh style represented in such a creative and imaginative way and displayed in an elegant modern setting.

The growth of the Mackintosh product is a great example of how a strategic partnership with Japanese investors has unlocked the potential of a traditional Scottish brand globally.

Mackintosh has been positioned as a luxury fashion brand through retaining the heritage and original craftsmanship of a traditional Scottish clothing product.

The company now has stockists in 12 countries worldwide with a store in London’s Mayfair in addition to the Tokyo outlet.

Innovation and design has always been at the heart of the Scottish textile industry and it is this attention to detail that makes Mackintosh so popular in Japan.
Mackintosh is an example of how, through investing in innovation and collaborating with global partners, Scottish companies can find new channels to market their designs in international markets.

Tags: design, innovation, Macintosh, Scottish brands, textiles

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