The 37th Mode in France exhibition, showcasing the Spring/Summer 2015 collection, kicked off on July 23rd and continues through today, the 25th, at the Hilton Hotel Tokyo in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo. Forty brands, including five exhibiting for the first time, are showcasing their latest collections in womenswear, leather, accessories, and more. While the number of visitors on the first day was lower than last year, the exhibition is going smoothly, with orders exceeding those of previous years. At a press conference held on the second day, Daniel Werther, president of the French Women's Ready-to-Wear Federation, who took office last September, said, "This is my first time visiting Japan, but seeing the Mode in France venue, I thought it was going well and felt there was a high level of interest in French fashion in Japan." He also expressed his desire to "expand the scale of the exhibition" in the future. Patricia Brafman, International Director, also emphasized the importance of Japan, saying, "The consumption tax increase will not have any impact. As a new initiative, we held the exhibition in Hong Kong (July 15th-17th) and Taipei (July 19th-21st) before Japan, and both were well-received. We plan to hold the exhibition twice a year. Japan remains our most important market, as evidenced by the 20 exhibitors in Hong Kong and 15 in Taipei. Due to Hilton Tokyo's policy, this will be the last exhibition held at this location, but the next one will be held from January 14th to 16th next year. We expect to be able to announce the venue soon." S les Pavé, a bag brand that launched five years ago and is now also available in the Printemps section and at Colette, offers semi-custom-made bags that can be freely combined with over 20 different metal fittings and designs, including octopus, spider, and rhinoceros. They've already received orders for their first exhibition. Me, a scarf brand created by an Indian-French couple who met at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in France, offers scarves featuring original silkscreen prints and Indian handcrafts, including designs featuring beach sandals and straw hats. While the brand is available at Bon Marché, Printemps, Tomorrowland, and Via Bus Stop, this time it received orders from department stores. Guibert Paris, which started out as a saddlery manufacturer, unveiled a world premiere of a fabric bag featuring the quarter marks worn by French cavalry horses. They also introduced items created in collaboration with young New York designers. Also, for the second time, Miki Miary presented feminine designs based on the Botticelli motif. "We're seeing an increase in business with new specialty stores," Miki Miary said. Tsunoda adds a touch of sweetness to traditional styles, such as lace on mannish shirt sleeves. The blue color palette is "better than last time," according to Yukiko Tsunoda.