Agile Supply chain AMRP: Fashion industry Global

Global fashion hubs are France, Italy, UK, US and Japan

France

Unlike other global fashion hubs where most large fashion events have launched in the last 2 decades fashion events in France date back to the 1970s.
Paris Fashion week launched in 1973 is one among the largest fashion events held globally. It is organized by Mode a Paris, a fashion industry association which hosts various fashion shows throughout the year.
The Paris Fashion Week includes Haute Couture, Ready to wear (Collections & Pre-Collections) and Men's Fashion. In total it includes 30 shows of Haute Couture(Jan& July) 30 shows of Men's Fashion (Jan&July) and over 100 shows of Women's Ready to wear.

Milan Fashion week includes a series of fashion shows categorized under two bi-annual fashion events and two annual events
In the past the fashion industry in Italy grew without strong government investment, however the current economic crisis has provoked the government to provide financial support
The Italian government recently announced its plan to offer financial aid to the fashion industry, including a tax credit for the production of clothing materials and direct government funding for small and mid-sized fashion enterprises.

The fashion industry in the UK experienced a slight increase in the number of large fashion shows held in that country (from 5 in 2004 to 7 in 2008)
The Graduate Fashion week held every year since 1991 claims to be "the only large fashion event across the globe to promote fashion students".

The number of fashion events held in the US is significantly higher than in any other country. However, unlike other developed countries most of the large fashion events in the US were only launched in the last few years
In 2008, the US hosted at least 44 large fashion events versus only 11 large events in 2004
This increase in large fashion shows has been driven by various cities/regions that have launched their own fashion weeks within the last few years

The fashion industry in Japan is mainly driven by the demand of its affluent population and youth culture (e.g.street fashion)
Japan is one of the largest markets for foreign luxury fashion goods. The country is trying to push domestic brands and fashion houses. E.g in 2005, they launched 'Tokyo Girls collection', a large fashion event to promote domestic brands targeting the young female population
Since 2005, the Japan Fashion week and the Tokyo Girls collection are held twice a year as part of the fashion festival in Tokyo.
The Tokyo Girls collection festival targets women in their late teens and twenties, and promotes "real clothes" (fashionable street-wear) that young women can actually add to their wardrobe