Ginza's Taimei Elementary School announced Armani uniforms. Parents weren't happy.
Toshitsugu Wada
The backlash has brought unwanted attention to Taimei Elementary  which dates  its  history from the late 19th century and whose well-known ivy-covered school building is just blocks away from Tokyo's most expensive real estate.
 It  also raised questions about the decision-making for the redesign. The school had decided  it  needed a new uniform last summer   principal Toshitsugu Wada  told the local education board. But parents first learned that the uniforms would be designed by Armani in November  when  Wada  sent a letter to the school community announcing  his  decision and justifying the luxury childrenswear by deeming the school a âGinza landmark.â
The English-language Asahi Shimbun news site reported that when the education board asked whether plans for a new uniform could be scrapped   Wada  told them that the old uniform was no longer being produced. The Armani design is scheduled to be introduced in April.
At a news conference on Friday   Wada  said that  he  chose Armani because the brand operated a boutique near the school and because it would fit Taimei's identity as a âschool of Ginza.â  Wada  said that the controversy surrounding the choice had not changed his belief that the cost of the new uniforms was worth it  according to news agency reports.
The backlash has brought unwanted attention to Taimei Elementary  which dates  its  history from the late 19th century and whose well-known ivy-covered school building is just blocks away from Tokyo's most expensive real estate.
 It  also raised questions about the decision-making for the redesign. The school had decided  it  needed a new uniform last summer    [TGT] told the local education board. But parents first learned that the uniforms would be designed by Armani in November  when  Wada  sent a letter to the school community announcing   [TGT]   decision and justifying the luxury childrenswear by deeming the school a âGinza landmark.â
The English-language Asahi Shimbun news site reported that when the education board asked whether plans for a new uniform could be scrapped    [TGT] told them that the old uniform was no longer being produced. The Armani design is scheduled to be introduced in April.
At a news conference on Friday    [TGT] said that   [TGT]   chose Armani because the brand operated a boutique near the school and because it would fit Taimei's identity as a âschool of Ginza.â   [TGT] said that the controversy surrounding the choice had not changed  [TGT]  belief that the cost of the new uniforms was worth it  according to news agency reports.