Japan-based Gunze, a leading apparel company, recently launched its debut retail endeavour at the Etihad Mall in Dubai, UAE, in partnership with UAE-based ITL Cosmos Group.

Dr Akima Umezawa, consul-general of Japan in Dubai, inaugurated the retail outlet by Gunze, said a statement from the company.

Dr Ram Buxani, chairman, ITL Cosmos Group, presented a memento of appreciation to Dr Umezawa.

Japanese textiles are known for their premium quality and have gained international popularity for their soft, rich texture and wrinkle-resistance. Premium kandora and abaya (traditional male and female robes worn in Gulf) brands are popularly made of Japanese fabric in the Middle East. Leading Japanese textile manufacturers have been exporting fabric to the region since 1960. Inspite of their popularity, no premium Japanese innerwear brands had a local presence in the market.

To fill this gap in the market, 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 in the emirate, who seek the best when it comes to quality, it added.

Gunze’s men’s innerwear is ideal for wearing underneath the kandora as it is made of soft and cool material, while its womenswear features innovative innerwear with innovations which use argan oil for enhanced comfort.

Using advanced Japanese technology, Gunze’s products feature distinctive product USPs such as offering a perennial feature of keeping cool, powerful sweat-absorbents, quick drying, anti-microbial deodorants and an indoor-drying ability without leaving an unpleasant residual smell.

Most of Gunze’s product lines are 100 per cent cotton. Their ladies collection is an international trend-setter, whereas the new, evolved innerwear designs provide a very comfortable feel to the wearer’s skin, fulfilling the discerning requirements of women who want their innerwear to be relaxing, as well as fashionable.

Additionally, the brand’s innerwear also focuses on keeping the skin healthy and smooth. Its women’s line Tuché is seam-free. Another parallel collection, Cosme Intimate is an innerwear line featuring argan oil which keeps the wearer’s skin moisturised and hydrated at all times.

Gunze’s products are being retailed at the lower ground floor of Etihad Mall, from September 19 to October 24, said a statement.

Some of the other senior officials present at the inauguration ceremony were Kazumi Yamamoto, director, Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro), Dubai; Masashi Shinohara, managing executive officer, president and CEO for Middle East and Africa, Sojitz Corporation; and Shinji Hombo, business development manager, Gunze, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service