INTIMA ASIA – 03/2009 - (Page 70)

Interview More on Crystal Mr Eddie Lo, President of Crystal Martin, will be taking part in the conference Intima Asia had the chance to interview him and find out more about his 75 milMister Lo, you are the President of Crystal Martin, a member of Crystal Group, one of the world’s largest manufacturers. How would your introduce you company to our readers? Crystal Group was founded in November 1970, starting out as a sweater factory in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong. Crystal Group has evolved from 70 employees to over 30,000 today, producing products including sweaters, cut and sew knits, woven and intimate apparel, with manufacturing facilities located globally. Our Group’s turnover in FOB is close to 1 billion US dollars and Crystal Martin’s alone is 75 million US$. Crystal Martin (Far East) Limited was formerly a subsidiary of Martin Emprex EDDIE LO PLC, UK which was founded in the 1920s. Crystal Group took over Martin Emprex PLC, UK in 2004 and renamed the company Crystal Martin. Adjacent to Martin Emprex’s existing panty factory in Zhongshan China, Crystal built a new production plant in 2005 specializing in bra manufacturing. Today, Crystal Martin’s plants in China together have over 3,000 workers supplying intimate apparel to the European, American and Asian markets. Crystal Martin works closely with our vendors and customers in both Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) styles, to please our customers. Joining Crystal Group was an opportunity or a necessity? It has been a great opportunity for me and my wife and joining Crystal has opened so many opportunities for us. I joined Crystal Group in 2003 and was located in our USA divisional office based in New York, specializing in Sales and Marketing for the group. In 2005 I was asked to relocate back to Hong Kong to implement our group’s strategic development within the intimate apparel industry. How has your business evolved over the last 10 years? Probably the largest change has been the transition from an OEM business that historically made up approximately 80% to the present day where ODM has grown to over 60%. This change has been embraced within Crystal and has been a driving force to distinguish our group from our competitors, by being able to offer de- 70

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of INTIMA ASIA – 03/2009

Cover
SHOP SCOUTING WORLD WIDE
NEWER NOTABLES - Aimer
- Passionata
- Innée
- Printemps
- Harrods
- Victoria’s Secret
- Tayê
RETAIL NEWS
FW 09/10 TRENDS - Baroque Allure
- Red Passion
- Light & Shadow
- Sweet Glamour
- Sensual Skin
LAUNCHING - Parah, R Crescentini
- Hanro, Grenier
EVENT - Ultralingerie
- Italian Legwear
EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW
EXHIBITION UPDATE - Hong Kong Mode Lingerie
- A new deal for ingerie trade shows
CALENDAR
NETWORK EXPRESS
EVENT
PROFILE
BUSINESS NEWS - Simone Pérèle, Wolf
- Maglificio Ripa, Solstiss, Tailor
- LYCRA, Eurojersey, Piave Maitex
- Noyon, Muehlmeier
- Swiss Embroiderers, Ricamificio Paolo, Carvico
FABRIC TRENDS

INTIMA ASIA – 03/2009