Top 10 Chinese Trendy Fashion & Luxury Brands

How many top Chinese fashion brands are you aware of? More and more Chinese fashion and luxury brands are becoming very trendy; with the emergence of the Chinese middle class, there are more wealthy and trendy customers for new brands. You can find below the top 10 trendy fashion and luxury fashion brands in China and also some useful advice about how to implement, export, or create your own trendy fashion brand in China.

     1. Shanghai Tang: epitome of china luxury fashion brands

The first global Chinese luxury brand has been amazing fashion industry worldwide by its elegance and fusion of East to West. Shanghai Tang was established in 1994 by Hongkongness David Tang Wing-Cheung who started his business as a little boutique. However, Shanghai Tang is now not just opening its flagship store in Shanghai and Hongkong, but in the American New York City as well.

The reasons why Shanghai Tang has become the most successful and No.1 Chinese Luxury brand internationally are not just because it’s the fine and highest quality of materials in the production but also distinctively Chinese cutting, styling and blending with Chinese attitude in it.

Besides, fully understanding the international market before entering the international market makes Shanghai Tang have more competitive advantages than others. For example, they have an existing loyal customers program to avoid losing big customers and also excellent designers in various countries provide their inspiration into the brand and make them even more brand better. Last but not the least, an existing mobile marketing platform allows the brand to track all the potential customers online and get ideas from customers for the future designs of the product.

     2. Ochirly: China fast fashion champion

This is a very ‘romantic’ Chinese women’s fashion brand in a European style. And it has been provided fashion women of the middle class in China since 1999 with its exquisite and full of frills products. Since Ochirly targets fashion young women in the middle class, its reasonable price attracts a huge amount of fashion ladies and it has become the leader of women’s dress in the fashion industry in China.

Ochirly owed its success to the excellent marketing strategies in China. Firstly， the company has precise positioning of the target group ( age between 25-45) and clearly designs the style of the brand. Secondly, the mode of operation drives increasing sales of stores. For example, headquarter with a flat supply Channel directs to store that gained profit maximization and reduced unnecessary expenditure. Thirdly, different sales and marketing channels like selling products online from Taobao for instance have also been increased the market share and brand awareness.

      3. Meters / Bonwe: casualwear fashion

Metersbonwe is a Chinese casualwear fashion brand that targets teenagers and age in 20s. It is the biggest Chinese casualwear fashion brand that still owns 5 layers of flagship stores based in Shanghai, China. When the marketing experts was doubt that the brand would fail in the intensive Chinese market, however, it has already expanded its market by collaborating with the movie industry overseas. Meters/Bonwe was ranking at No.61 out of 100 – the most valuable Chinese brands since 2014.

How Meters/bone did this successful progress? It was all about extraordinary aspects of branding strategies. Firstly, the brand brings energy with the vitality of attitude to the young fashion people. Secondly, with the increasing life quality of Chinese people, Meters/Bonwe meets people’s demands of perusing leisure lifestyle. Thirdly, the choice of spokesmen makes a difference, since Jay Chou becomes the spokesman of the brand who has been brought the vitality of the entertainment industry into the fashion brand.

The company is now trying to gain more apparel market share by increasing stock turnover and highly impacting of advertisment on the young fashion audience.

    4. Bosideng: high-end Chinese fashion Brand for Men

This is another good example of a Chinese brand going global. Bosideng has opened its first overseas store in London in 2012. This brand is focused on the high standard production of men’s wear in detail of tailoring and fabrics and is very famous in China. According to Forbes, the expansion of the European market of Bosideng has a limitation of customers. Its customers are mainly London-based Chinese, overseas students, or tourists. This situation is going to be hard for the company in the long run if the company is not going to improve its marketing strategy.

However, the CEO of Bosideng, Mr.Zhu announced that the future of marketing strategy of Bosideng will be focusing on expanding by means of e-commerce and building relationships with premium department stores in London, and of course, inputting of hiring local fashion designers who know the market trend is important to the international market of Bosideng because they are knowing better of customer tastes in London.

     5. Septwolves: most successful Chinese fashion brand?

Septwolves is the most successful men’s business fashion brand in 2013 in China. Just in the half-year of 2013, Septwolves profited RMB 256m out of sales RMB 1.4bn. (Statistics from just-style). Septwolves Group has continually renewed its marketing strategies so that it can follow the market trend and conditions. And now the company defines its marketing strategies as multi-dimensional and multi-level branding strategies.

Customers in any area can find that Septwolves is the best brand to fit into their ideal lifestyle. Recently, Septwolves is not just selling men’s suits series, but also other series under the brand like casual club series, women series, children series and designer’s series, etc. At the same time, Septwolves enhances the distribution channels advantages so that real-time logistic and distribution services and information systems can go through all internal sales outlets (source from official Septwolves website).

     6. Gujin: Chinese lingerie brand

Gujin is a Chinese lingerie brand, which targets women who have an elegant intellectual taste. The company’s idea of ‘hoping all women are healthier and more beautiful’ has won women’s hearts and social credibility in China. Gujin’s marketing strategy puts itself ahead of other lingerie brands. Firstly, Gujin puts emphasis on fashion without being harmful to health. Secondly, Gujin sees itself as a local Chinese fashion lingerie brand.

It is not only focusing on the design and quality but also the deep understanding of Chinese women’s needs and characteristics of Eastern women. Thirdly, massive media coverage like advertising strategy, online promotion, and fashion shows really grabbed every woman’s attention all the time. Currently, Gujin has been expanded its market to Overseas like France, Italy, Span, and Japan. And it has become one of the well-known brands in China. It is fashionable at a reasonable price that every fashion woman can afford it.

Read more about China Lingerie Market

      7. Belle: Women Footwear made in China

Belle footwear brand started its business in the 70s in Hongkong and is now the No.1 footwear brand with more than 10,000 stores openings in China. Belle has the meaning of ‘beautiful woman’ in French. The brand aims to let all women wear its brand everywhere in the world. The brand is mainly targeting a group of women at age of 20-40.

Belle won women’s hearts by using its soft marketing and customer relationship marketing and what they want women to know is that women need a pair of beautiful shoes and this idea was really touching to women’s emotions and getting the connection between the brand and customers.

According to 100the most valuable Chinese brands in China, it was at highest apparel entrant at position of No.42.

     8. Xander Zhou

This is a designer fashion brand that appears on the fashion week regularly, which was founded by Mr. Sander Zhou. His brand is an all-time favorite for the magazine in terms of its design with a combination of realism and aesthetics of fashion. Sander with his brand has been waved Chinese fashion industry and the attitude of men’s fashion in China-menswear can be not just brave and confident but also narcissistic.

Does he promote himself and his brand? Of course! Although his talent has been recognized internationally, he is always seeking the opportunity to work with the best of the best. As you can from the banner below- he stated on his website that always welcome and glad to work with the best fabric supplier and garment factory!

     9. MJ style

MJ is one of the fast-growing local Chinese fast fashion brands since 2013, and it is the only brand, which can compete with brands like H&M and ZARA in-home China. The reason why the name of the brand can be recognized and remembered by customers is that the brand has the quality of a luxury brand but at a reasonable price.

Besides the cost performance, MJ style has other competitive advantages as a Chinese local brand and more opportunities to enter second-tier cities However, if the brand wants to go further in the game, it has to find its own way and identity in the market. As we all know that Chinese people like Western brands more than local ones, especially young fashion people.

      10. Lining: king of Chinese Athlesure brands

Why Lining can be listed in the top 10-fashion brand? I would like to stress the meaning of ‘Lining’. It has become one of the memories for people who were born in the 70s and 80s. The lining was leading Chinese sportswear, which had a big market share before the Chairman announce re-positioning its brand in 2010.

 The main reason Lining failed in the market is that giving up on loyal customers and trying to make a great leap forward and win 90s young customers only. The big change of slogan from ‘anything is possible to ‘made the change’ lost its loyalty of customer. Secondly, mistaken of re-positioning goes international first and then local market. Thirdly, the lack of product development and product innovation makes customers choose other brands.

Although this brand is not No.1 sportswear in China anymore, however, it is still the only one Chinese sportswear brand known by worldwide than any other brands. By Elliot Dao Fashion branding specialist.

 Read more about Wy Athleisure is so popular in China

How to market a fashion brand in China?

Collaborate with Chinese e-commerce platforms

The e-commerce market in China is rapidly growing and is expected to expand even more. Even luxury fashion brands have a lot of success on the internet. Online shopping has become a real trend in mainland China. The most important reason why Chinese consumers purchase so much online is that it simply takes less time. Going to the shop consumes a lot of time and shopping itself can last almost an entire day.

If you have decided to take your luxury fashion brand to China, your brand has to be accessible for online buyers. Instead of offering your own e-shop on your website, you can also choose to collaborate with popular e-commerce platforms. You will reach a lot of Chinese consumers and therefore more people will recognize your luxury fashion brand. Some luxury fashion brands have already collaborated with huge e-commerce platforms in China.

Today, Alibaba’s Tmall and JD.com are dominating the Chinese e-commerce market. Tmall, for example, has established the Luxury Pavilion, this is a special platform where they only offer luxury fashion brands to loyal consumers with a high income. Fashion brands such as Burberry, Hugo Boss, and Estée Lauder have already been selling their goods on the Luxury Pavilion.

Develop your strategy on Wechat

To enter the luxury fashion market, you have to create brand awareness with your target group. Before Chinese consumers will buy your luxury fashion goods, they first need to know that your brand exists. Today, being active on social media is a must, especially for a luxury fashion brand. You might be familiar with WeChat, Weibo, and all other Chinese social media. Indeed,  Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram will not help you to create brand awareness in China.

It’s all about WeChat. Being active on Wechat is your first step into the Chinese luxury fashion market. This platform counts more than 900 million active users and is mostly used by citizens of China. On this platform, you have the opportunity to promote your luxury fashion brand to Chinese consumers.

In addition, you can send messages to potential and existing customers, so you can interact with them and provide good customer service. For example, high-end fashion brand Céline has already created an account on WeChat and has used it for their ready-to-wear campaign. Other brands such as Coach, Bulgari, and UK’s Burberry have also joined this social platform. 

Read more about Wechat Marketing for Fashion Brands

Use KOLs, Key Opinion Leaders

Another way to market your luxury fashion brand is to work with intermediaries. Instead of you promoting your fashion brand yourself, intermediaries can do the work for you. KOLs could be actors, singers, internet celebrities, in general, they are trendsetters. These idols have many fans on social media, who support them and want to live the same life as them. If these trendsetters wear or recommend your luxury fashion brand, fans will notice your brand and want to have it too.

Keep in mind that this is not the easiest way of advertising your luxury fashion brand. It is difficult to say which intermediary is the most useful and has the most influence on the target audience. But when this communication tool is used the right way, it can without a doubt boost your business in no time. Whatever is the size of your fashion luxury brand, you will have the opportunity to develop your business in China by using some effective tools that will create more touchpoints with the Chinese customer. 

Learn about the Pros and Cons of Kols Marketing for Fashion Brands in China

Develop your luxury fashion marketing strategy in China

Gentlemen Marketing Agency is THE specialist in digital marketing in China. We have a branding and advertising team, knowing well the latest trend in China and its market. Do not hesitate to contact us for further discussion, if you have a project in China or if you want to know more about us.

Read more about fashion & luxury brands in China:

• The top 10 luxury fashion brands searched online in China.
• 8 Keys to Understand the Chinese Luxury Fashion Market
• How to Find a Niche Market for Your Fashion Brand in China?