Even Japanese, Koreans, other Asian communities love to wear Modi jacket
NEW DELHI. The craze for Modi-styled jackets is fast catching up with many Asian communities including Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese.
Diplomats, businessmen, corporate honchos from East and Southeast Asian countries have been seen sporting this Indian ethnic attire over their western shirts and trousers, and also with Kurta in some of the causal or cultural gatherings in India.
Tomio Isogai, the former Managing Director of Sharp India Ltd, an Adjunct Professor at Ajeenkya D.Y. Patil University, Pune and now an Adjunct Faculty at MIT-ADT University, Pune, loves to wear Modi-Jacket which he has many in his wardrobes.
Recently, he was visiting New Delhi to attend a meeting at the ASSOCHAM office where he made a presentation titled “Look East, Act Global”.
An authority on Indo-Japanese relations, Tomio Isogai says he loves wearing Indian ethnic attires but he was perturbed to see many Indian youths attracted to western clothing.
“We should be proud of our Asian culture and embrace our own style of wear. I wear Modi-Jacket even during formal meetings, and I don’t see any problem in doing so,” said Tomio Isogai.
He is a global-minded business person with diversified experiences in more than 60 countries all over the world. After retiring from Sharp after 37 years in 2016, he joined Ayurveda Society in Japan, Iyengar Yoga Association in Japan, the Kansai Japan India Cultural Society in Kobe, Japan, and the 22nd Century Academy in Tokyo.
Yoo Chang-ho, the Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Korea is generally seen in Modi-jacket in many formal functions in India. He has at least one jacket always ready in his Embassy office all the time.
It is not only Yoo Chang-ho who himself wears this jacket, but he also has makes two of his sons do the same on some occasions.
Sometime back during the commemoration of the 69th Anniversary of Korean War at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, he had come with his wife and two sons Yoo Sungjay (12) and Yoo Sungchan (11).
Interestingly, Yoo Chang-ho and both the young boys were seen wearing Indian ethnic jackets, probably to express their love and respect for the ever-strengthening India-Korean relations.
The sleeveless jacket though has been in vogue since Nehru era but Indians had lost the very charm in wearing it considering it the outdated attire. But Modi has actually induced demand for this jacket and it is a fashion now to wear it. That is why the jacket is better known as Modi jacket and has earned the reputation of a brand.
Kenji Sugino, the Secretary-General, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCII) is the latest entrant in the Modi-jacket club.
“I recently purchased one jacket from Fab India and love to wear it now. I came to a formal meeting at the Associated Chamber of Commerce in India wearing this jacket only. I will probably buy some more jackets,” he said.
