Super Cool Biz

The Japanese government started to push a more casual summer business/work dress code last year, after the tsunami and earthquake, in order to get people to adapt to reduced availability of electricity, and by extension, air conditioning. There was a feature on clothing for this trend on NHK World's Tokyo Fashion Express. It confirms what I thought about the compatability of the traditional Western business dress code and hotter climates - they're not, unless one has cheap energy for A/C. Which makes one wonder: what the British do during the hot summer months? Bide their time until they make it inside a cooled environment? What did the gentlemen do in the 19th century? Pampered nobles probably would not put up with the sweat that comes with wearing a dress coat in hot weather in the name of tradition.

The wearing of a jacket may be a marker of status, or just required by tradition, but what can one do to make this possible and healthy when the weather is hot? It is one thing to have multiple layers in a hot dry climate for protecting the body and conserving water, but what about where it is more humid?

Links:
Japan's MOE Promoting 'Super Cool Biz' Campaign for 2012 to Help Save Energy
Japan’s “cool” summer dress code
It’s Baaack! The Return of (Super?) Cool Biz
SUPER COOL BIZ: JAPAN'S SUMMER DRESS CODE
Cool Biz