Metersbonwe Group
Encyclopedia
Metersbonwe Group marketed as Meters/bonwe is China's leading casualwear apparel company. Metersbonwe opened their first store in Wenzhou
on April 22nd, 1995. By the beginning of 2007, the company operates around 1,800 stores across China
and has over 5,000 employees. In 2006 the Group's retail sales exceeded RMB 4 billion, making Metersbonwe the largest casualwear retail brand in the country. The company targets 18- to 25-year-old male and female consumers. Their corporate slogan is "Be Different" (不走寻常路).
. In the early 1990s he ventured to Wenzhou after borrowing 200,000 yuan (US$24,691). He worked everyday selling clothes in the daytime and tailoring clothes in the evening. In 1992 he tailored thousands of winter coats for other factories and started to make enough to build his own brand.
By using franchisees and building a strong team of French and local designers, the company grew by more than 30% every year. The brand quickly catered to the needs of a young and increasingly fashion conscious consumer base. By focusing on good quality and reasonable prices, the company gained increasing popularity.
The company invited Taiwanese star Jay Chou to become the brand's image ambassador in 2003. As a result, MetersBonwe became the best selling brand for the year 2004, evaluated by the China National Garments Association. In 2005 its annual earnings with the sale of the brand's clothes netted some 3 billion yuan (US$370 million).
In its new Shanghai Headquarters, opened in late 2005, the company opened a fashion museum for the public. In the museum, there are ancient and ethnic costumes and accessories, many not even found in national museums. Some parts of the collection will now be relocated to a new store opening up in late 2007 on Nanjing Road in Shanghai.
brands including Nike
, Adidas
and Abercrombie & Fitch
- was the subject of a report by the environmental group Greenpeace
entitled 'Dirty Laundry'. The Metersbonwe Group is accused of working with suppliers in China
who, according the findings of the report, contribute to the pollution of the Yangtze and Pearl
Rivers. Samples taken from one facility belonging to the Youngor Group
located on the Yangtze River Delta
and another belonging to the Well Dyeing Factory Ltd. located on a tributary of the Pearl River Delta
revealed the presence of hazardous and persistent hormone disruptor chemicals, including alkylphenols, perfluorinated compounds and perfluorooctane sulfonate.
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
on April 22nd, 1995. By the beginning of 2007, the company operates around 1,800 stores across China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and has over 5,000 employees. In 2006 the Group's retail sales exceeded RMB 4 billion, making Metersbonwe the largest casualwear retail brand in the country. The company targets 18- to 25-year-old male and female consumers. Their corporate slogan is "Be Different" (不走寻常路).
History
Metersbonwe was created by President and Founder, Mr Zhou ChengjianZhou Chengjian
Zhou Chengjian , is a Chinese textile industrialist.-Biography:Zhou was born in Qintian County of Lishui, Zhejiang Province. He was a tailor when young. Zhou started his own business in 1986 when Zhou was only twenty-year old....
. In the early 1990s he ventured to Wenzhou after borrowing 200,000 yuan (US$24,691). He worked everyday selling clothes in the daytime and tailoring clothes in the evening. In 1992 he tailored thousands of winter coats for other factories and started to make enough to build his own brand.
By using franchisees and building a strong team of French and local designers, the company grew by more than 30% every year. The brand quickly catered to the needs of a young and increasingly fashion conscious consumer base. By focusing on good quality and reasonable prices, the company gained increasing popularity.
The company invited Taiwanese star Jay Chou to become the brand's image ambassador in 2003. As a result, MetersBonwe became the best selling brand for the year 2004, evaluated by the China National Garments Association. In 2005 its annual earnings with the sale of the brand's clothes netted some 3 billion yuan (US$370 million).
In its new Shanghai Headquarters, opened in late 2005, the company opened a fashion museum for the public. In the museum, there are ancient and ethnic costumes and accessories, many not even found in national museums. Some parts of the collection will now be relocated to a new store opening up in late 2007 on Nanjing Road in Shanghai.
Environmental Practices
In July 2011, the Metersbonwe Group - along with other major sportswearSportswear
Sportswear or activewear is clothing, including footwear, worn for sport or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons....
brands including Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
and Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch is an American retailer that focuses on casual wear for consumers aged 18 to 22. It has over 300 locations in the United States, and is expanding internationally....
- was the subject of a report by the environmental group Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
entitled 'Dirty Laundry'. The Metersbonwe Group is accused of working with suppliers in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
who, according the findings of the report, contribute to the pollution of the Yangtze and Pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
Rivers. Samples taken from one facility belonging to the Youngor Group
Youngor Group
Youngor Group Company Limited is a private textiles and clothing enterprise in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. It is engaged in designing, manufacturing, selling clothing products with its "Youngor" Brand for gentleman clothing...
located on the Yangtze River Delta
Yangtze River Delta
The Yangtze River Delta, Yangtze Delta or YRD, also called Yangzi, or Chang Jiang Delta, Rive Chang Delta Tai Lake Region or the Golden Triangle of the Yangtze, generally comprises the triangular-shaped territory of Wu-speaking Shanghai, southern Jiangsu province and northern Zhejiang province of...
and another belonging to the Well Dyeing Factory Ltd. located on a tributary of the Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
revealed the presence of hazardous and persistent hormone disruptor chemicals, including alkylphenols, perfluorinated compounds and perfluorooctane sulfonate.