On April 18th, the “Luxe.Co Fashion Innovation and Investment Forum” was successfully held at the Kimpton Bund Hotel in Shanghai.
Entrepreneurs, executives, and investors from domestic and international financial and industrial investment institutions, brand startups, corporate groups, and internet technology giants gathered to share their leading entrepreneurial or investment cases. Combining insights into the current global fashion consumption industry, they explored the opportunities and challenges in value creation within the fashion sector amid today’s complex and volatile consumer environment.
At the opening of the forum, Ms. Alicia Yu, founder and CEO of Luxe.CO, delivered a keynote speech on “Global Trends in Fashion Investment and Mergers & Acquisitions.”
Drawing from exclusive data tracked by Luxe.CO Intelligence from 2019 to 2023 on global fashion lifestyle equity investments, mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs, Yu presented a comprehensive view of fashion investments in China and abroad. In the current economic climate, she believes that fashion entrepreneurship is embracing a “peaceful mindset,” with early and growth-stage equity investments becoming more rational and refined. She also highlighted two new growth areas in global fashion entrepreneurship (“Hair Care” and “Niche Perfumes”) and elaborated on “two key terms” and “five points of reflection” for entrepreneurs.
Based on transaction data and years of research, Yu emphasized that “M&A” is an everlasting theme in the fashion industry and the main exit strategy for most investments. She shared insights into fashion M&As with two key terms—”intensity” and “depth”—and explained five important signals through five representative M&A cases of 2023.
Roundtable Discussion: Fashion Investment and M&A from an International Perspective
Main topics:
- The essential qualities of an ideal fashion investment in the global market
- The advantages and challenges faced by European and Chinese fashion brands in going global
- The difficulties and solutions in cross-border fashion investments and acquisitions
Roundtable speakers included Tim Xia, partner at Anta Capital’s private equity fund; David Yang, President and General Manager for Greater China at Eurazeo; Yang Yue, China Head at Triton Partners; Yang Yulong, head of industry investment at Libai Kaisheng Holdings’ Lanyi Technology Investment Department; and Ye Congxuan, General Manager at Hangzhou Business Travel Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd. (pictured from left to right); moderated by Alicia Yu.
Dialogue: The Heritage and Innovation of Luxury Brands
Main topics:
- The importance of adhering to long-termism, cultural visibility, and practical implementation in the cultural heritage process of luxury brands
- Blancpain’s layout and innovation in brand culture communication in the Chinese market, and future plans
- The three key elements for the long-term operation and development of luxury brands
Dialogue guests: Liao Xinjia, Vice President of Blancpain China (pictured right); moderated by Wang Qiong, Senior Vice President & Fashion Director of Luxe.CO (pictured left).
Dialogue: Open Innovation in Beauty Companies
Main topics:
- L’Oréal Group’s practices and layout in beauty technology innovation in the Chinese market
- L’Oréal Group’s selection criteria, processes, cycles, and empowerment methods for investing in emerging beauty brands
- Future opportunities and challenges in China’s beauty consumer market
Dialogue guests: Lan Tingyuan, Project Director of the Consumer Center at L’Oréal China (pictured right); moderated by Alicia Yu.
Roundtable Discussion: Empowering Fashion Brand Investment Portfolios
Main topics:
- The essential qualities required by leaders of fashion companies and key factors in talent acquisition
- How investment institutions can help their brands expand in the Chinese and international markets
- Insights into the current high-end consumer group in China
Roundtable speakers: Maggie Chan, Operating Partner at Advent International; Charlotte Chang, Vice President of Global Opportunities at L Catterton; moderated by Alicia Yu.
Roundtable Discussion: The Development Path for Chinese Designer Brands
Main topics:
- The advantages and disadvantages of Chinese designer brands going international
- Opportunities and challenges for the development of Chinese designer brands in the current market environment
- How Chinese designer brands can effectively promote Chinese culture
Roundtable speakers: Grace Chen, founder of Grace Chen; Guan Lin, founder of Short Sentence; Wu Yin, founder of YIN; Li Yushan and Zhou Jun, designers & principals at PRONOUNCE (pictured from second left to right); moderated by Wang Qiong.
Roundtable Discussion: Innovation and Investment in the Sports and Outdoor Sector
Main topics:
- Key factors for strengthening competitiveness in sports and outdoor brands
- Observations on consumer trends in the sports and outdoor sector and specific investment case sharing
- Analysis of the current investment and entrepreneurship development space and opportunities in the sports and outdoor sector
Roundtable speakers: Chang Xin, founding partner of Bee Smart Capital; Han Shiyi, China Market Director at New Balance; Luo Yuan, co-founder of RE Bike; Shi Cen, partner at Shangda Capital (pictured from second left to right); moderated by Zhao Xiaoyue, Vice President & Director of International Cooperation at Luxe.CO (pictured first left).
Roundtable Discussion: Technology Empowering Fashion
Main topics:
- The latest technological innovations related to the fashion industry and case sharing
- Actual needs of today’s fashion and luxury brands in adopting new technologies
- Technological innovations or technological support needed by Chinese fashion brands going international
Roundtable speakers: Feng Jiani, Sales Director of Luxury Goods Center at Tencent Ads; Xu Wei, partner at Zhongwei Capital; Chen Chuxin, Head of Sci-Tech Development and Investment at Swire Properties (pictured from second left to right); moderated by Wang Qiong.
Special Planning: The Latest Trends in Global Sustainable Fashion Innovation and Investment
During the afternoon break, Luxe.CO showcased a specially planned video on global sustainable fashion, covering the six major environmental pollution issues behind the fashion industry and the latest trends in global sustainable fashion innovation and investment.
Roundtable Discussion: Innovation and Upgrade of Chinese Fashion and Lifestyle Brands
Main topics:
- Case sharing on entrepreneurship and innovative upgrades of local Chinese brands
- Understanding and thoughts on product power and brand power
- Progress and current opportunities for innovative upgrades of local Chinese brands in recent years
Roundtable speakers: Wang Junhong, Executive Director & Vice President of China Men’s Group Lilang; Zhu Changlai, founder of home brand “Chapter Home”; Xie Yige, founder of Sugar Heart Egg and Deputy Director of the Gold and Silver Embroidery Museum; Zhou Yajie, Global Partner/Senior Partner and Executive President at Fosun Wealth Creation; Meng Zhaoran, Vice President & Founder of fragrance brand “DOCUMENTS” (pictured from first left to third right); moderated by Alicia Yu.
Theme Sharing: Luxe.CO’s Global Discovery Journey & Remote Sharing: The New Ecosystem of Overseas Fashion Entrepreneurship
Zhao Xiaoyue, Vice President & Director of International Cooperation at Luxe.CO, shared “Luxe.CO’s Global Discovery Journey,” highlighting the journey of connecting the fashion industry value chain and linking global fashion creative talents. Through in-depth visits to the “heartland of Italian manufacturing,” Pitti Uomo men’s fashion show, Florence Fragrance Exhibition, Swiss health industry destinations, global headquarters of luxury and sports outdoor brands, and major luxury brand shows, Luxe.CO brought back firsthand observations on the European and Italian fashion industries.
In the final segment of the forum, Luxe.CO invited three distinctive overseas fashion brand entrepreneurs to share remotely via video. The guests were:
- José Lamali, Jérémie Egry, and Aurélien Arbet, co-founders of French designer brand Études
- Sara Ferrero, founder & CEO of Italian women’s fashion brand SA SU PHI
- David Andersson Sahlin, founder of Danish designer brand Rue De Tokyo
Luxe.CO will continue to release reviews of each section of the forum, so stay tuned!
About the “Luxe.CO Fashion Innovation and Investment Forum”
Since 2015, Luxe.CO has held the “Fashion Innovation and Investment Forum” annually for five consecutive years, with events in major international cities such as Beijing, New York, London, Milan, and Paris. In 2020, during the global pandemic, Luxe.CO held an eight-hour online forum called “Luxe Cloud Meeting,” connecting cities like Beijing, San Francisco, New York, Milan, and Shanghai. Over the following three years, Luxe.CO conducted dozens of online dialogues, salons, and thematic forums. By deeply engaging and documenting many changes in the global fashion industry, Luxe.CO continues to practice its vision of “Connecting Global Fashion Innovation” with a professional and pragmatic spirit.
In 2024, the Luxe.CO Forum returned to offline events, hosting its highest-profile annual forum for the first time in Shanghai!
| Image Credit: Luxe.CO On-Site Photography
| Editor: Xiaoyue
