ORIENT

Continued from Page 48

no one seeks another way in. In Paris
or Milan, photographers check every
possible loophole in the security
system to get in first and mark a spot
for themselves and their buddies.
In Tokyo, the press agent states
precisely when the doors will open.
Journalists who attend the shows are
virtually all Japanese. If they are kept
waiting longer than 15 minutes after
the printed showtime, they will write
up the designer as being selfish,
inconsiderate and disorganized. In
other fashion capitals, showtime is
anybody's guess. The Tokyo
Collections even distributes a handy
notebook that lists one designer per
page with space for notetaking.
Most foreigners enter without
invitations. They breeze by the
dozen or so college-student guards
at the tent entrance. Outside, by the

ANOTHER
BRILLIANT
IDEA
FROM
BRUCE WEISS

Japanese designs continue
to be a mixture of
European influences,
original ideas and a
fabulous textile industry.

blocked-off police gate that admits
just one entrant at a time, Japanese
wait quietly in line for the privilege
of attending the show. If there is
room, they are admitted. Upon
entering the tent, guests sign in at a
table where three staff members,
surrounded by expensive flowers
sent by textile manufacturers and
model agencies, greet each guest
with a bow and a Irrashai mase
C 'Welcome").
The show itself is treated more
like theater than business. Unlike
other fashion capitals, guests do not
speak, clap or do anything that
might interrupt or distract the
performance. Even when the
designer wants a happy mood, it is
usually contrived by having the
models prance "merrily" down the
stage.
The models themselves are the
best foreigners money can book. In
fact, they are mostly the same as in
Paris and are almost all non-Japanese.
It's part of a psychology that things

QUALITY • DEPENDABILITY • TRUST • REPUTATION

BRUCE
WEISS

26325 TWELVE MILE ROAD, SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
IN THE MAYFAIR SHOPS AT NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY

CUSTOM JEWELRY

YOU HAVE IT MADE

10:00-5:30 MONDAY-SATURDAY, 10:00-8:30 THURSDAY

(313) 353-1424

29977 Orchard Lake Rd. • Farmington Hills, MI

SPRING '89 101