The reason I wore the Chinese Dress on Business Dinner with Clients.

Japanese version of this entry is here.

【The reason I wore the Chinese dress on Business dinner with clients.】

I have worn ethnic dress when dining with important clients-such as big company’s presidents.

Actually I did it twice. Both Chinese dress and Indian Saree were selected by my boss’s wive.

There were not many who have business trips abroad from the company, and most people enjoyed I guess. Clients, bosses, local staff, all looked happy.

But a week later, one of the Japanese boss who live in China told me that “maybe they take it joke so do not do it again.”

Of course it was not for elder men, for the god’ sake, since half of Chinese presidents are women.

But in Japan Chinese dress make you imagine “Hostess bar”, and I did not fully understand if it was different in China. If so, or if one of the clients know the implication in Japan, they would not take me doing serious business woman. I think I was not careful enough to research it.

My purpose is same as eating the ethnic food at business dinner. Even if you never try it , you show your curiosity and try to eat together. You do not have to continue it if you do not like it or feel strange about it. The attitude of “I am accepting, at least I am trying to see what you eat, what you wear.” is very important , when building the relationship, especially if you are at their home. The client receive the attitude as message “I am with you, we are in the same direction (in business)”.

Well of course the other reason I wore is that I just like ethnic clothing.

It is usually much with the nature of the land and show the beauty of the nation.

But I am suggesting you to use ethnic dress more for business.I am not saying about wearing Yukata, but wearing your counterpart’s dress.

That is actually why I have asked embassies to get ready ethnic dress for LunchTrip. The most recent LunchTrip was at Tanzanian Embassy, and they collected 50 for us. Everybody looked shy at first but happy soon after. More over, I would not forget the glitter eyes of the ambassador and embassy staff.

【In the case of Diplomacy-Ethnic dress at international conference】

Diplomacy is a different story in terms of fashion.

I found this blog written by Mr.Haru, who works in New York at United Nation at the point of 2007. It is a bit old, but this was very good article.

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Meeting different ethnic dress at conference, I visually feel different cultures. And sometimes it blows me away how deep the routs are.

President Mahmūd Ahmadinezhād from Iran, President Ọbasanjọ from Nigeria wear each dress to tell clear message, intention, and belief.

Their Speeches are strong, and persuasive visually.

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Reading the meaning of the message back of the fashion is a technique and intelligence of diplomacy, I believe.