Italian fashion comes to aid of Japanese tsunami victims
Sendai (AsiaNews) - A luxury handbag that unites Italian and Japanese tradition has become a vehicle to help the victims of the great earthquake of 11 March 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami along the Japanese coast. The Italian fashion house Gucci has signed a deal with thew traditional silk factory Sendaihira to produce a limited number of bags that will be auctioned: The proceeds will go to the reconstruction of the area.
On 11 March 2011, a massive earthquake shook the eastern coast of Japan, causing a devastating tsunami. About 3 thousand people died immediately after the tragedy, but the death toll continues to rise for the damage to nuclear power plants in Fukushima, which caused a leak of deadly radiation. The Japanese Church and Caritas are engaged in ongoing rehabilitation programs in the area, but there are still thousands of people in grave difficulty.
In order to raise funds to aid
them, the two companies have joined forces. Sendaihira - born around the
mid-1600s - has provided a "tan" (about 11 meters) of fine silk that
is worth several thousand euro. In addition, the head tailor Yoshio Koda
(pictured, 84, he is considered a "living national treasure" by the
Japanese government) has decided to work with the artisans of Gucci to sow the
fabrics.
The first batch of 10 bags, was sold on July 12 in Sendai itself: each piece
was purchased for about 4 thousand euro. The rest of the production - in
limited edition - will go on sale in September in Tokyo and Osaka. The
operators hope to achieve "at least" 100 thousand Euros to donate to
the survivors.
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