About Us
Our team has decades of experience in owning and operating fashion brands and businesses around the world. Currently with a focus on working with brands and retailers looking to enter & develop their business in Greater China or to raise funding and find partners to facilitate growth. We also work with Asian brands and designers to facilitate their movements into international markets.
Founders Peter Caplowe and Richard Hobbs are supported by specialists in retail operations and roll out, logistics, IP, brand strategy, marketing, design and product development, sourcing and production, finance and fund raising.
With an acute awareness of the cultural and communication differences between East and West we can smooth over the cracks and help manage expectations on all side.
Process
We work with clients as partners, collaborators, business operators and investors. We help to identify your businesses potential in the region and then work with you to establish the optimum combination of resources and operational structures to achieve your goals in the Asian region.
01. Distribution
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If you are a traditional wholesale oriented brand we have networks of agencies, showrooms and distribution companies throughout the region. We can help find the right partner for you and establish the most appropriate framework to grow your business.
02. retail
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Finding the right retail partner in a far off land is never easy. Single brand retail environments are still the primary focus in most markets in Asia. We operate our own retail stores as well as on behalf of brands and have extensive connections to grow through this channel.
03. licensing
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Particularly in China the major model for success is a licensed distribution model. With plenty of experience in this field and understanding the expectations and needs of the brand owner and licensee we can configure the legal and operational structure to make it work.
04. supply chain
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Without quality and timely delivery of product there is no business. We have the expertise in logistics and moving goods around the region as well as deep connections in sourcing and manufacturing. Being premium brand owners we are conscious and active in maintaining performance.
“Creative adaptability is the key to success in Asia.”
peter caplowe | Co-Founder
Our Story
Both Peter and Richard have been primarily based in Hong Kong since the late 1980’s and in that time have developed extensive connections and gathered wide and varied experiences throughout the Asian region as well as in Europe and the USA.
Peter’s first apparel related venture was the import and distribution of brands from Australia and Asia into Europe. Including tracking down Yamane san from Evisu and then launching the infamous brand, part of the original Osaka 5, outside of Japan. From distribution to eventual licensing and ownership of the label Peter grew the brand to over 100m USD turnover and expanded it’s reach globally with positioning at top premium retailers, a store on Savile Row, collaborations with the likes of Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, Tom Dixon and Ron Arad, and launching in China as the first international premium denim label as far back as 2001.
Peter sold his interest in the brand in 2010 but continues to enjoy close relationships with the owners in Japan and of the international business.
Richard moved to Hong Kong in 1989 where he ran the sampling and development operation of the Pepe Group before heading up the sourcing and production function for fashion product with offices and staff across the region managing the output of up to 10m garments per year. He later worked for a subsidiary of the group which was spun off and was responsible for creating and delivering collections across denim, street and sports wear for major retailers and brands. During this period he was instrumental in the development and global sales of some of the most influential brands of the late 90’s and early 2000’s including Mecca USA, Alphanumeric, Etienne Ozeki and Blue Guru.
Peter and Richards paths crossed when Evisu and Etienne Ozeki were both forging paths in innovative and premium denim markets and again in 2010 when both had been working on differing projects helping brands find their way into the Asian market. They decided to join forces and Entrepot.Asia was the outcome. The company achieved immediate success and the founders decided that the next step was to launch a trade show for international brands coming to Asia. Within 6 months they had raised seed capital, secured the support of trade bodies around the world, and held the first edition of The HUB in Hong Kong with over 100 exhibitors. Within weeks of the first show they secured further investment from a UK listed trade show and event company allowing The HUB to grow and achieve it’s eventual aim of moving to China where it would be the primary route for brands to enter the Chinese Market. After 4 editions in Hong Kong and 3 in Shanghai the founders sold their shares to their investor. In the process they assisted over 400 brands expose themselves to the Asian market, hosted tens of thousands of buyers and potential business partners, and helped multiple companies establish their business and networks in the region.
During the same period they successfully negotiated a license from the iconic Los Angeles denim and fashion destination, American Rag Cie, for China. Setting up a 6,000ft2 flagship store in Shanghai and 4 other locations in Greater China. This involved importing over 100 brands, many of them for the first time into China, as well as developing a vertical collection specifically for the China market.
Since then both have continued to work as consultants for various brands and companies with particular focus on retail in Macau and Hong Kong as well as the use of technology in the design and supply chain of apparel.
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