Hong Kong


	The Japan Times WORLD EYE REPORTS HONG KONG

©THE JAPAN TIMES	Wednesday, June 26, 2002

A cut above the competition

Started in Hong Kong by Shanghai native Fang Shui Chow over 50 years ago, the story of Fang Brothers Knitting is one of succesful growth. Today, the company has grown into a vertically integrated textile and apparel producer with operations that span the globe. Its manufacturing network is comprised of 24 factories in 10 countries.

Fang Brothers Knitting Ltd., now led by its chairman and co-owner Kenneth Fang, employs over 20,000 people and has established a distinguished sourcing network of suppliers in the Far East. He and his brothers have built the company into one of the biggest sweater manufacturing companies in Asia, and were pioneers in introducing design and development into the once primitive garment manufacturing industry.

Kenneth Fang JP, Chairman of Fang Brothers Knitting Ltd.

The Group now acts as the manufacturer for exclusive labels such as Gap, DKNY, Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, Marks and Spencer and Banana Republic, to name a few.

The Fang Group also has a global retailing network of over 350 directly operated stores and shops-in-shops. It is represented in all major markets worldwide through its brands Episode, Jessica and Colour 18. With its proven track record for offering new products and services, the group is known as one of the few retail companies in Asia that is successfully in selling its own-brand products in cities like New York, Chicago, London and Paris.

In March of 2000, the Fang brothers acquired the ailing luxury Scottish brand - Pringle. While Pringle has been world famous for its classic golfing sweaters and cashmere line, the Fang Group has completely revitalized the 200 year-old brand and given it a more dynamic and modern appeal.

"When we officially took over Pringle we immediately launched our plan to turn the brand and the company around," relates Kenneth Fang. "Our first goal was to reactivate the brand within the UK. We got back into Harrods and we are opening a store on Bond Street in London in August to give the consumers in the UK a completely new vision of the Pringle brand. As of now we are on track and are taking the company forward step by step."

Fang's strategy has been effective so far, with Pringle now a highly sought-after label again for the rich and famous - displaying its trademark lion logo regularly on the fashion catwalks of Europe.

There was some initial concern from the traditional public when Fang first announced its acquisition: "We were originally seen as a foreign company buying a Scottish apparel company and they were worried that we were going to take the production and manufacturing away from Scotland," Fang comments. "So we reassured both the Scottish government and the people in the factory that this would not happen. In order to be an international brand we did move the head office to London but the manufacturing for Pringle still remains in Scotland."

The Fang Group will launch the Pringle brand in Japan this autumn in cooperation with Mitsui & Co, leading with the opening of an exclusive Pringle store located in Tokyo's fashionable Aoyama district.

The group's other brands will see the same dynamic international and China-wide expansion. "We are already promoting Episode and Jessica in the Chinese market - which is definitely a big market for us, especially Shanghai," adds Fang, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Productivity Council. "The next step is Pringle. Buying Pringle was complementary in extending the brand range and demographics of our customers, enabling us to reach all market segments. With mainland China changing so quickly day by day, I hope it won't be too long until we see a Pringle shop in China!"

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