Morgan, a
women's ready-to-wear brand, has set up its first manufacturing
company in China.
M.D.T. (Nanjing) Garment Corporation is jointly invested
in by Paris-based Morgan, which holds 49 per cent of the
shares, and Hong Kong-based Hembly International Holding
Limited, which has the remaining 51 per cent.
"The joint
venture will deliver Morgan apparel to the global marketplace
with guaranteed quality at a competitive price," said
Georges Gausseran, chief executive officer of Morgan.
He predicted
that the Nanjing-based corporation would be manufacturing
50 per cent of all Morgan products within three years. And
within five years, Morgan will have built 200 boutiques
in China, mainly in department stores and malls.
Presently, there are more than 1,000 Morgan stores around
the world, 34 in the Chinese mainland, 10 in Hong Kong and
27 in Taiwan.
According
to Gausseran, the Nanjing corporation will not only be a
manufacturing base but also a supply centre for the company
Its annual production capacity is set to reach between 700,000
to 1,000,000 individual knitted items, trousers and skirts.
The factory will make to order, and all finished products
will be delivered to Morgan distributors after inspection.
Gausseran said that the vast majority of apparel made at
the plant will be shipped overseas, mostly to Europe. "We
will consider designing clothes for the Chinese market,
but this may only take up 10 per cent of production, based
on market needs," he said.
Billy Yue, chairman of Hembly, believes his firm has an
edge in the sector, which was a factor in the co-operation
with Morgan.
For example, Hembly has had dealings with European clients
previously and has complied with European business practices.The
firm has developed unique and advanced fabric testing and
development techniques and established a wide sourcing network
across Asia, especially China, according to Yue.
Founded in 1947, Morgan, a leading global brand, makes clothes
for women aged 16 to 35, with collections that are contemporary
and fashionable.
Source: China Daily
