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Lightweight Office Wear
From late summer through early fall, Tokyo turns into a sweltering steam bath of a city, with temperatures in the 90s and 80% humidity. Traditionally, this hasn't affected the dress of the capital's office workers, who are confined to a year-round uniform of dark suits, white shirts and subdued ties. However, during the past two summers things have begun to change as part of a campaign to combat global warming. "Cool Biz," a government policy launched in April 2005, is an attempt to reduce greenhouse emissions by limiting the use of air conditioners. Government offices are now cooled to a cozy 82°F, and employees have been instructed to wear lighter, more casual clothing, and to leave their jackets and ties at home.
It's no surprise that our ever fashion-conscious city has developed a style in response to this initiative. The Cool Biz look is based around colorful short-sleeved shirts, navy or beige slacks and blazers with reduced lining. This year the fashion industry has jumped on the Cool Biz bandwagon, with everyone from top-end stores to bargain chains bringing out garments to help workers cope with their warmer offices.
The ubiquitous Uniqlo group produced 10 different types of Cool Biz shirts, as well as pants, socks and underwear made from fabrics that claim to reduce body temperature. For trend-conscious men in their 20s and 30s, United Arrows and Epoca Uomo have put together collections of short-sleeved shirts in slim cuts, keeping it interesting with textured fabrics, unusual colors and bold patterns. Imported brands are also proving popular; Italian label Corneliani brought a touch of the Mediterranean to summer wardrobes, with beautifully draping soft weaves and distinctive hues.
Some older workers claim leaving home without a tie feels unprofessional, but Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has supported the Cool Biz initiative by appearing in parliament in open-necked shirts, and younger Japanese men have embraced the chance to expand their weekday wardrobes, transforming the packed morning subway commute into a kaleidoscope of short sleeves.
For Westerners, the Cool Biz look offers clues on how to reinterpret preppy styles and give a fresh twist to business casual. The innovative fabrics and colors employed by Japanese designers bring a new lease on life to the short-sleeved shirt. And it's a trend worth following, as looking cool while keeping cool is set to become even more important in the coming years with governments worldwide working to reduce energy consumption. Taiwan has already begun its own Cool Biz program, so who knows where the concept will take hold next?
Will the fall weather kill this functional look? Layer your lightweight office top with a comfortable T and maintain your Cool Biz look through the cooler months ahead.
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