Asia invests in European fashion brands

  Have acquired no matter combination of factors, Asian investors prestigious, albeit slowly, the European brands for more than a decade, often peps costs for businesses - an appreciation of the cultural heritage, an eye for a bargain, or maybe a bit of both .

One example is Taiwanese entrepreneurs Shaw-Lan Wang, the Alber Elbaz at Lanvin installed after purchase of the French fashion house in 2001 by them. Along the way back to profitability Similarly, acquired South Korea's Kim Sung-joo economy German leather goods company MCM in 2005. Since then it has been vying for a coveted by hip young Asian brand with a monogram to compete with the appointment of Louis Vuitton. Megha Mittal, the Indian steel family, also helped inject a cool glamor Escada after they took over the struggling German fashion label in 2009. In short, the tide is turning in luxury fashion.

Giant Hong Kong's supply chain, the Fung Group, is perhaps the busiest aggregator. In recent years, the group, led by brothers William and Victor Fung, an enviable portfolio of European brands accumulated floors.

Fung Brands, a subsidiary of the investment arm of the Fung family, now holds French fashion house Sonia Rykiel, Belgian Delvaux leather label and in a joint venture, French shoemaker Robert Clergerie.

Date Trinity, the unity of the luxury menswear group last year Gieves & Hawkes, the Savile Row tailors and clothing brand, a team that includes the Paris-based fashion house Cerruti and Kent & Curwen British heritage label.

The thugs and sale of textiles and clothing makers Yangtzekiang manufacture of clothing, which is controlled by the family Chan - Last year, the British brand Aquascutum was acquired distressed luxury fashion of YGM Trading in Hong Kong. YGM was the owner of Guy Laroche for China before the purchase of the company in 2004. And redemption follows a pattern - he also held the regional license for Charles Jourdan before to take the mark of French lifestyle.

Labels YGM lengthen golf and lifestyle brand, Ashworth and trendy Swedish brand J. Lindeberg, and it will soon offer peak performance, another Swedish brand on the continent.

"We need to move forward Aquascutum for global expansion and [more] existing business in the UK intend," says Shirley Chan Suk-ling, CEO of YGM "[as well as the expansion and diversification] product categories such as sports, children's fashion and accessories. "

To open a new flagship store Acquascutum soon, which mark the direction of the strategy more unified global brand label.

There are several reasons for takeovers of European labels by Asian entrepreneurs who want to take advantage of the market for luxury vehicles. First, it is usually easier to revive a grand old name than building from scratch.

"The European brands have a big advantage because they have the quality, heritage, authenticity and especially the history," marketing director David Wong said at Trinity-gay group. "Many American and Asian brands are new to the market and have a single generation in history, while brands from Europe have often exceeded three generations of succession and continuity."