Pierre Cardin may be one of the most well-known Western fashion brands in China, but very few people know the producer behind the products. That firm is Tianjin-based Jin Tak Garments Co Ltd - GRUPPO GFT.
About 16 years ago, when Chinas fashion industry was just emerging, Jin Tak brought Pierre Cardin to the market.
With an exclusive licence for Pierre Cardin suits and overcoats in China, Jin Tak manages the brand from fabric selection, cutting, stitching and pressing, to distribution and retailing.
Today, it has opened 298 sales outlets and has an annual revenue of US$30 million.
The garment manufacturer is about to move into the new Tianjin Textile Industrial Zone, with a construction area of 12,000 square metres, compared with its existing 8,500 square metres.
This market leader hopes to further lead the countrys fashion industry by developing a new business line in totally handmade suits.
The firm will launch its handmade products for this years autumn and winter collection. To realize its goal, the company will introduce special technology from Italy to upgrade its operations.
This it calls "bringing the Italian-Napoli tailoring way to China," said Stavros Pirounis, president and chief executive officer of Jin Tak.
A new company department will be created later this month to produce 80 to 100 handmade suits a day. Currently, the company can produce 30 a day.
"We see a trend in China of people preferring high quality products, and many of them go for handmade suits," Pirounis said.
He told China Daily that a special work area will be created that will have a good environment, and the companys best workers will be selected to work there under the leadership of an Italian expert tailor.
Quality is the most important factor in this kind of business. It will take about 12 hours to finish a suit by hand, compared with 3 hours for machine-made suits.
Jin Tak says it also places strict quality control over all of its products. Pirounis claimed his quality standard was the highest in the Chinese industry.
High-quality fabrics, good tailoring and craftsmanship, and continuous inspections make a fine garment.
"Our principle is simple: we use the best materials and the best craftsmanship to make our consumers look elegant and modern, and feel comfortable," Pirounis said.
The company says that it does not simply produce fine workmanship, but provides care and love, paying attention to detail.
The company president said that both the cost and profit for a handmade product was high compared with normal machines-made products.
"Production costs are at least 10 times higher and the profit is about 20 to 30 per cent higher."
With this investment in technology and labour, the company will also enlarge its tailor-made business.
"We see an increasing number of customers seeking personalized suits, and they want to get involved in the process and add their personal design to the suits," Pirounis said.
