High Fashion International Group

Hurray! High Fashion Group Received Award From The Lenzing Group | Reaffirmed Its Position As A Sustainability Leader!
2021.11.16
Hurray! High Fashion Group Received Award From The Lenzing Group | Reaffirmed Its Position As A Sustainability Leader!
On 8th October 2021, High Fashion Group was awarded the “TENCEL™ Strategic Partnership Award, China” from the Lenzing Group for its continuous contributions to sustainability and social responsibility. Following last year’s success in obtaining the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) Certificate, and becoming an official partner of bluesign® system and OEKO-TEX® previously, High Fashion Group’s sustainability efforts were once again recognized by the global fashion industry.As a long-term strategic partner of the Lenzing Group, High Fashion Group has joined hands with TENCEL™️ for a number of sustainable and innovative projects, ranging from innovative fabrics to sports fashion, leading the industry to sustainable consumption. A wide range of Lenzing's biodegradable fabrics that are made from wood, including TENCEL™️Lyocell, TENCEL™️modal, LENZING™️ ECOVERO™️ and TENCEL™️Lyocell in REFIBRA™️ technology have been used in the group's garment production to not only increase product functionality and texture, but also embrace sustainability for environmental protection. High Fashion Group will continue to embed sustainability into its core strategy and daily operations, including green R&D, green manufacturing, green operation and green products, providing more safe and eco-friendly products to the customers across the globe. The group looks forward to working on many more sustainable projects with the Lenzing Group, creating a circular economy for the fashion industry!
The R Collective diverts fabrics from incinerators to closets in silk industry-first recycling project with High Fashion Group
2021.10.06
The R Collective diverts fabrics from incinerators to closets in silk industry-first recycling project with High Fashion Group
The R Collective launches their breakthrough RECIRCLE recycled silk knit capsule made from recycling luxury IP-sensitive silk fabrics, which otherwise are routinely incinerated, as this textile-waste-reducing social impact fashion brand and waste management business makes circularity come to life. Empowering the best sustainable designersHong Kong based British designer and London Central St Martins graduate, Grace Lant said, “I created the RECIRCLE box-fit mesh shirt and RECIRCLE’s slim fit dress to help redefine consumerism whilst celebrating purpose-driven design. Today, fashion designers must balance artistry with innovation if we’re together to make change happen. It’s time to stop talking about solutions - and get them into action.”Providing options to avoid incinerationRECIRCLE is created using 100% recycled silk yarn made from recycling excess IP-sensitive fabrics, sourced in partnership with other fashion businesses.Christina Dean, Founder and CEO of The R Collective and Founder of Redress, says “We’ve had enough of the widespread industry-norm of incinerating textiles, including those carrying IP sensitive patterns, prints and logos. Globally 73% of materials that go into clothing end up in landfill or incinerators. We know there are better, albeit still challenging, ways to rescue and recycle these valuable materials back into fashion. At The R Collective, we collaborate with leading luxury brands to put a recycling, rather than incineration, supply chain into practice as we collaboratively manage some of fashion’s hardest textile surplus,” she said.A breakthrough recycling collaborationTo achieve this innovative recycled silk product, The R Collective partnered with High Fashion Group, China's leading garment manufacturer that embraces sustainability and innovation.Mr Will Lam, CEO of High Fashion Group, said, “Achieving circularity requires fashion stakeholders to collaborate. We all have key roles to play. This project demonstrates how we at High Fashion Group can magnify our key expertises in silk recycling, spinning and knitting by working with The R Collective's challenging rescued textile waste streams, which too often otherwise continue to be incinerated.”Kickstarter to kickstart changeRECIRCLE is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter until 13th October. Members of the public supporting this Kickstarter campaign are additionally rewarded with first access to RECIRCLE pieces and other limited-edition pieces. The Kickstarter Campaign can be seen here.-The End-This “RECIRCLE” collection was also featured in Vogue Business, Kohan Textile Journal, Textile Focus, TEXTOTEX, Textile Value Chain and Nippon Sewing Machine.
Symposium on the Completion of Hangzhou Research Institute of Technology of Xidian Univeristy Project held by The High Fashion Xiaoshan Business Park
2021.09.01
Symposium on the Completion of Hangzhou Research Institute of Technology of Xidian Univeristy Project held by The High Fashion Xiaoshan Business Park
In March this year, a provincial key project, Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University, landed in Xiaoshan Innovation Polis. Business Park of High Fashion Group in Xiaoshan has been selected as the transition site of the institute. This had received great attention in the 4th Xiaoshan Future Forum as a key project. Half a year has passed, a complete range of facilities, such as the academic building, institute complex, library, sports ground and lecture hall, are freshly ready in High Fashion Group Xiaoshan Business Park. We are welcoming the new graduate students of Hangzhou Institute of Technology on September 4 in this brand new site.On the occasion of the successful completion of the project, High Fashion Group Xiaoshan Business Park, as the host, recently invited the Xiaoshan Innovation Polis Management Committee and Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University to hold a symposium, hoping to further understand each other through the discussion and exchanges, and to explore further cooperation opportunities in the future.Gao Yuan, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Xiaoshan Innovation Polis, Deng Jun, Party Secretary of Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University, Liao Guisheng, President of the institute, and Ruan Genyao, Vice Chairman of the Board of High Fashion (China) Co., Ltd. attended the symposium.At the symposium, Ruan Genyao, Vice Chairman of the Board of High Fashion (China) Co., Ltd., welcomed the landing of Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University in Xiaoshan Innovation Polis and selection of High Fashion Group Xiaoshan Business Park as the transition site, and expressed his gratitude to the leaders of Xiaoshan Innovation Polis Management Committee for their recognition and support of our Business Park. Mr. Ruan said that High Fashion Group was established in 1978, listed in Hong Kong in 1992, and began to invest in Hangzhou in 1982. It is the first Hong Kong-funded company to invest in Hangzhou and a model company for Hong Kong-funded companies to invest in the mainland. Until now, the Group has a history of more than 40 years. High Fashion (China) Co., Ltd. invested by the Group in Hangzhou is a leading enterprise in Xiaoshan District. Over the past few decades, High Fashion’s headquarter in Xiaoshan has invested more than RMB 2 billion, covering an area of 260 hectares, making substantial contribution to industry investment and silk culture development in Xiaoshan District.Mr. Ruan said that although High Fashion is a Hong Kong-funded enterprise, we value and are dedicated to the cause of education. In line with the corporate culture of "fulfilling ourselves in fulfilling others, benefiting ourselves in benefiting others", over the years, we have worked hard to help the underpriviledged. We donated to 35 Hope Primary Schools with a total charitable donation of more than RMB 80 million, and established and distributed education funds in many colleges in mainland China and Hong Kong. Therefore, for the landing of Hangzhou Research Institute of Xidian University, High Fashion is giving our full appreciation and support. High Fashion’s board of directors holds the same belief of education as Xiaoshan Innovation Polis Management Committee and Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian Univeristy. For the smooth launch of Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian Univeristy, both the Group and the Xiaoshan headquarter have put in great efforts. No matter in project funding, student safety, student accommodation, or overall campus environment optimization and management needs, High Fashion has given extensive support. Although we encountered many difficulties during the period, we have overcome them one by one and successfully completed the project. In the future development, High Fashion will also strongly support the work of Xiaoshan Innovation Polis, closely work with Hangzhou Institute of Technology on the development of the institute, and seek greater cooperation in the first phase of the Business Park and the second phase of the projects under construction.Deng Jun, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University, was deeply moved after listening to Mr. Ruan's speech, and expressed his gratitude to High Fashion for the dedication and hard work for the implementation of the Xidian project. He said that from the signing of the project in March to the completion of the renovation in August, the overall project was completed efficiently and with high quality in only 6 months, reflecting the strong leadership and execution power of the leaders of Xiaoshan Innovation Polis and the High Fashion team. Later, Mr. Deng also gave an introduction to the Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University project. He pointed out that Xidian University has two research institutes, one in Guangzhou and one in Hangzhou. Regarding the current Hangzhou project, they are very satisfied with both the overall environment and office space which is very comfortable and decent. He said that the university and High Fashion would still work together for long-term cooperation, and hoped that everyone would have more communication and exchange, exploring more room for cooperation and opportunities.Finally, Gao Yuan, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Xiaoshan Innovation Polis, delivered a speech to conclude the meeting. Ms. Gao said that the transition site of Hangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian Univeristy at High Fashion Group Xiaoshan Business Park was coordinated by herself. She personally could feel the same way about the difficulties and obstacles encountered. It was really not easy, but in the end, the result of the smooth and timely completion with quality is very satisfactory. Ms. Gao summarized the meeting from two aspects. She said on one hand, doing a good job in education and in this project is the best reward - the construction and landing of the project benefits the excellent teachers and students. On the other hand, the establishment of the institute has also brought great enhancement to High Fashion Business Park. One is the improvement of the overall image, the second is the improvement of economic efficiency, and the third is also to bring more youths with energy and vitality to High Fashion. It is believed that in the near future, the project output of Xidian University students will drive more cooperation opportunities to Xidian University and High Fashion, and create more possibilities for cooperation in the construction of national-level incubators, related project base construction, and international academic discipline construction project.
High Fashion (China) - Green Manufacturing, Level Up!
2021.08.25
High Fashion (China) - Green Manufacturing, Level Up!
All three branches of High Fashion have been awarded the world's most prestigious sustainable textile production - STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification.In August 2018, High Fashion (China) Printing and Dyeing Branch has received STeP certification;In June 2020, High Fashion (China) Garment Branch has received STeP certification;In August 2021, High Fashion (China) Knitwear Branch has received STeP certification.So far, the three major business sectors of High Fashion (China) are all covered by the STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification system. The STeP certification management system from fabrics to knitting and woven garments has been established to ensure that customers are provided with environmentally friendly and green products, and one-stop supporting services to further realize the sustainable development of the textile and garment industry chain.The inspection scope of STeP certification is comprehensive and meticulous. The certification body pays attention to the entire production chain of textile and garment factories and even the upstream suppliers and end customers, which also includes the latest international environmental protection hot issues. The authority and rigor of this certification system is second to none in the world.This time, the six major modules, chemical management, environmental performance, environmental management, quality management, social responsibility and health and safety management, of High Fashion (China) in the 2021 STeP certification assessment all achieved results far exceeding the industry and global average.(STeP Certification Global Performance Comparison)In recent years, the company has proactively strengthened industry-university-research cooperation, continuously increased investment in research and development, and established technological innovation system and operating mechanism. All our departments coordinate with each other and fully participate in it. In the process of applying for STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification, the company has also advanced the capabilities of management.STeP by OEKO-TEX® certification requires comprehensive utilization of resources, including recycling of waste water, waste heat and production surplus materials, the use of energy-saving equipment in the production workshop, etc., to reduce waste, which is completely consistent with the company's philosophy of energy-saving and consumption-reducing. At the same time, STeP's requirement on environmental protection and social responsibility commitments is what High Fashion has always upheld.Through this STeP certification, High Fashion (China) has made further improvements in on-site management and resource utilization. In the future production management, we will continue to strictly adhere to STeP standards for green manufacturing and sustainable development, aiming to better provide consumers with product experiences beyond expectation.This is the unremitting persistence and efforts of High Fashion-ers, and more it is High Fashion (China)'s social responsibility!
Stitching Sustainability With Innovation: Will Lam, MD, High Fashion International Group
2021.08.13
Stitching Sustainability With Innovation: Will Lam, MD, High Fashion International Group
Picking up on a family passion, Will Lam has raised the bar in intelligent, responsible garment manufacturing. The Managing Director of High Fashion International Group cuts to the chase, advocating innovation, education and the occasional game of chess…Interview by Gafencu:https://www.igafencu.com/r/will-lam-managing-director-of-high-fashion-international-group/.Your family has more than 40 years of experience in the fashion industry. What does fashion mean to you?From a business perspective, I think fashion, simply put, is to fulfil desires. It’s about understanding the constantly changing market and what customers want ­– listening to and meeting those demands.Fashion is ever changing and I’ve had time to build up my knowledge of the industry. Both my parents started fashion businesses, so I was exposed to it early on in life. From a young age, I spent a lot of time watching my parents gain insight into the world of fashion; even our Sundays were spent together visiting brands for a better understanding of the market.What path did your education take, and how has it impacted your professional life?I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong before completing my Master’s at one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States, Princeton University. Both experiences were very beneficial to my personal and professional growth. I was especially impressed by the engagement and interactive discussions between students and professors when I was in Princeton University. The students were very intelligent and the professors were supportive; this helped mould how I run my own company.For the past decade, you’ve been the top management of High Fashion, the company founded by your father. Did you have other career aspirations growing up or did you always see yourself within the family fold? I was quite heavily influenced by both my parents. They were both entrepreneurs, and I think witnessing them build their businesses from scratch inspired me to run a business myself.But beyond the fashion industry, I love the technology industry. In fact, our company – as well as my family and I, on a personal level – has invested in several start-ups. We develop ecovation programmes that help young entrepreneurs aspiring to start big businesses. I love new ideas that contribute to innovative business models to transform industries – not only in fashion but every sector of the economy.What have been the major contributing factors to your company’s success?High Fashion is the global leader in silk manufacturing and one of Asia’s leaders in sustainability and providing affordable, luxurious garments. We are also a fully vertical supply chain. We provide a one-stop service for all types of customers from all over the world, from textiles to garment production.I believe that innovation has been the most important factor in our success. Our clients are some of the most well-known brands in the world, and they are constantly looking for unique and creative ways to meet the demands of their consumers. At High Fashion, we seek out new fabrics, new ways of servicing, new re-engineering processes, as well as forms of technologies that allow us to produce a consistent flow of innovative products.But on top of that, our diverse team has been key to the growth of our business. I believe that having an office culture that nurtures creativity is another important factor for a company’s success. We encourage staff to share new ideas and be open to collaborations, and embrace trial and error as part of the learning process.Could you give us an example of how creativity and innovation have boosted your business?I am always grateful to our staff and their support in growing a successful company. In turn, I feel that it is my responsibility to provide them with the best environment in which to perform and grow. We offer platforms that allow them to continue learning, which is especially important now that we see new businesses disrupting traditional organisations. We like to promote a fast-learning culture that encourages staff to learn about new market trends, visit different exhibitions, take part in seminars and network with other professionals. We also guide them through three to five years of career planning, organise management programmes and sponsor Executive MBA programmes outside of our company.This allows the team to consistently contribute new and diverse ideas in meetings. It’s a very effective process that we focus on in order to deliver a continuous stream of innovative products. I believe this is one of the reasons why the majority of our staff have stayed loyal to the company – most of them have been with us for more than 20 to 30 years.You’re known as a supporter of intelligent garment manufacturing. Can you tell us how this has changed and benefited the company’s productivity?I think intelligent garment manufacturing is a trend that will last long into the future. Everyone is talking about the new economy, implying how technology plays a huge role in transforming traditional businesses. Because the garment industry is quite labour intensive, technologies like robotics and digitalisation offer businesses a leg up.We look for ways to capture different ideas that are imbedded in technologies and apply them to garment manufacturing. In the past few years, we’ve spent a lot of time on automation. We were able to increase our productivity by 30 to 40 percent without having to reduce our labour force. And this is just the beginning: we will continue to learn about integrating automation into garment production. New companies are already adopting automation and advanced technology, which is why I believe technology will be an inevitable transition for the garment business, and will transform traditional companies into faster-growing entities.Sustainability has become a hot topic in fashion. Could you share your thoughts on the subject?Sustainability is the key to a more secure future for the generations to come. We hold great value in the initiative to help our customers transition from less sustainable into more sustainable products. This is where my belief in education comes in. Whenever we work with clients and consumers, we inform them about the importance of sustainability and how we can provide them with sustainable products. For example, incorporating sustainable production processes such as recycling and up-cycling.Our factory is one of the best known for sustainability; it holds a green-level certification – the highest level in China – and we are one of the few garment factories that uses solar power to recycle energy throughout the production process. Thinking two or three decades into the future and how our business affects the planet, we will introduce new elements of sustainability in our production process and supply chain wherever possible – ensuring more eco-friendly production that avoids excessive waste and reduces the carbon footprint.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has also been a priority for High Fashion. Why do you feel it’s so important to give back?I think education is very important; I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to learn a lot when I was at university. Which is why I feel that it’s important to provide that same exposure to youngsters who have limited resources and avenues in which to develop their interests and career path. We strongly support education by providing opportunities for university students to join exchange programmes overseas. We have also built schools in Asia – China, mainly – such as the High Fashion Women’s Institute in Hangzhou that has offered tertiary fashion education for over 10 years.What upcoming projects or new initiatives are you most excited about?Since 2020, we have been working on WL District, a newly renovated, open shared space that allows CEOs and creatives to collaborate and network. Whether hosting an event or holding an exhibition, we aim to provide a space that allows like-minded individuals to come together with their unique backgrounds, expertise and skills. From the concept to the interior design, we’ve put careful consideration into every aspect of creating a venue that inspires creativity, collaboration and innovation.What’s your favourite way to relax? Do you have any hobbies?My favourite sport is tennis. Before I joined the company, I didn’t do much exercise, but I found that exercising helps me both mentally and physically – I feel more energised and focused. You need to be quite determined and disciplined to do well at tennis, and it’s helped me stick to my routine and improve my efficiency.I also like chess, a game my father introduced me to when I was a child. Not only does it help with my concentration and problem-solving skills, it’s an activity that I enjoy doing with friends, as we can catch up over a game. Although it might seem mentally strenuous, I actually find it relaxing: it offers me mental clarity.Thank you.Interview: Roberliza EugenioPhotographer: Jack LawVideographer: Andy WanArt Direction & Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma
High Fashion Group joining hands with UOB Commercial Banking Academy and hosting a visit for their interns
2021.07.29
High Fashion Group joining hands with UOB Commercial Banking Academy and hosting a visit for their interns
High Fashion Group is glad to be a corporate partner of the UOB Commercial Banking Academy this year. UOB Commercial Banking Academy is an initiative to nurture the future business leaders by providing on-job training and industry exposure to top-notch university students. UOB Hong Kong has partnered Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Business School to organise an internship programme, the UOB-HKUST Practicum in Commercial World since 2017.High Fashion Group has been invited to be a corporate partner of the UOB Commercial Banking Academy by hosting a visit to our office.Our Managing Director, Well Lam, had an inspiring conversation with all the energetic participating university students on the global fashion, innovation and sustainability trend.We organised an office tour and showcased our Silkism products to everyone.High Fashion and UOB will consistently take on social responsibility and seek to make a positive difference to the community.