Making it in Japan: American designers and Japanese consumers are changing the rules of engagement

Many US designers have found that they have had to relinquish creative and managerial control of their collections to Japanese partners in order to succeed in the Japanese market. This behavior may change as Japanese consumers realize what they enjoy about US fashion rather than depend upon the ideas of Japanese marketing individuals. Also, US designers are refusing to relinquish the control of their collections to Japanese retailers and suppliers.
NEW YORK -- To stand a chance of making it in the Japanese market, American designers have had to abdicate a good deal of managerial and even creative control to [...]