Parisian fashion label The Kooples is looking to Asia for expansion, starting with two monobrand stores in Hong Kong in November.
It is about to sign a partnership deal with a regional retail group, with its Hong Kong stores to be in the Harbour City and Pacific Place shopping malls.
This will build on the handful of retail outlets it currently has in Asia, stores and retail corners mainly in Thailand and South Korea.
Above all, the new partnership will lead to the opening of the label’s first stores on Mainland China, from next year. The Kooples’ only presence in China is a retail corner at the Galeries Lafayette department store in Beijing. Similar formats could follow as Galeries Lafayette is a partner, and is planning further stores in China.
Meanwhile, The Kooples is evaluating the launch of a dedicated China e-commerce site.
Following Hong Kong and China, the Parisian label and its local partner are also considering Japan.
In the fiscal year to August 31, The Kooples’ revenue was around €220 million (US$263.1 million), on par with the previous year, and the company sees Asia as a crucial growth driver for the 400-store brand.
“Asia’s the next challenge” says GM Nicolas Dreyfus.
The Kooples has appointed the director for its Asian subsidiary: former Balmain Asia COO Laetitia Mergui.