Hong Kong’s up-and-coming women’s handbag designer Chic by R&B is looking to expand its global presence by exploring Taiwan and other overseas markets after achieving some success in getting its brand recognized in Japan.
Having established itself as one of the most sought-after innovative brands for women’s bags in Hong Kong in just a few years, Chic by R&B has laid out plans for further development, which includes promoting its own brand globally while expanding its OEM business elsewhere, according to the company’s managing director, Ricky Ng.
“Taiwan happens to be one of our targets, and we are seeking cooperation with the local firms for OEM and other customization possibilities,” Ng said, adding Chic by R&B also wants to introduce and promote its brand to Taiwanese clients.
Ng said Chic by R&B started tapping the Japanese market two years ago by sending its products for exhibition in the highly-acclaimed Tokyo Fashion Week in 2016, which immediately drew great attention from fashion lovers, especially those into innovative products.
The company was invited again to take part in the Tokyo Fashion Week in 2017, which has since allowed the company to establish a steady base in Japan, according to Ng.
“We have been invited by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to join the Lifestyle Expo in Dubai, United Emirates June 25-26,” Ng said, adding Chic by R&B is one of the young designer brands recognizable enough to take part in the expo.
Ng said in addition to Taiwan, Chic by R&B is negotiating with clients and possible cooperation partners in the United States, Spain, South Korea for OEM and other branding businesses.
Currently, Chic by R&B produces its handbags in China-based factories, he said.
Gracie Leung, designer and founder of Chic by R&B, said all handbags are designed in-house with a tribute to the Hong Kong city spirit, then meticulously produced in factories that Chic by R&B carefully sources and closely supervises.
Based on the concept of crafting playful yet pragmatic handbags for vivacious urbanities, Chic by R&B draws inspiration from urban scenes, travel sightings and playful bits of life, she said.
“We create handbags that accompany metropolitans in the hustle and bustle through day and night,” said Leung, a self-made designer who first started drawing as a stress relief but ended up finding joy in designing handbags, which she believes are a daily life companion to women.
Leung, who prefers to use highly-contrasting colors to “propagate the joy in the dullness-stricken city,” said she “wants to make creative innovation another perpetual pursuit of Chic by R&B.”
“The brand envisions to adopt more groundbreaking designs in the future, including 3-Dimensional handbag decors or utilizing novel materials to revamp many handbag details the industry has taken for granted,” she said.
Taking a bold approach to life just like her groundbreaking designs, Leung has then forgone the stability of her life, quitted her job as a general manager and started a venture of creative pursuits, according to the company.
Chic by R&B was then founded – with the cheerful and daring ethos that she wants to convey through her handbag designs.
According to her company, Leung is unstoppable in her quest to make the impossible designs possible. She is constantly incorporating unique elements onto handbags regardless of the technical difficulties. Be them toys like the jigsaw puzzle or interesting fabric discovered in an overseas trip, she has never ceased to become a forerunner in overcoming the complication in handbag making, it said.
For further information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.chicrnb.com/