Ines de la Fressange launches on Chinese e-tail site, plans to double number of stores

By

Tanissia Issad

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Feb 9, 2018

In early 2017, after doing a complete make-over in France, French fashion label Ines de la Fressange announced its plan to expand internationally, and export 'Parisian chic' abroad. 

After opening about fifty stores in 13 countries worldwide (from Japan to the USA, Switzerland, Taiwan and even Chile), the high-end label designed by the former Parisian top model is now available in China too, for the time being online, via premium multi-brand e-tailer Meici.com.

Among the Chinese pure player's range of luxury items, Ines de la Fressange Paris products will showcase "Parisian chic at accessible prices," the label’s signature positioning according to CEO Fabrice Boé.

"China is a very significant market in volume terms, still growing strongly and becoming increasingly sophisticated, and one where the power of e-tail, now more and more dominant, is able to connect the whole of China's huge landmass," said Boé. The label's declared objective after this initial foray is to establish a settled presence in the country, both online and offline. Ines de la Fressange Paris is also planning to find a local partner to deploy successfully.

But China isn't the only development area for the French label. Since 2018, the plan has been to double the number of stores internationally, going beyond 100 boutiques to establish a presence in 20 different countries.

In France alone, a retail corner defined by Fabrice Boé as "huge" is about to open at the Galeries Lafayette department store in Toulouse, while a second Ines de la Fressange boutique is set to open next September in Lyon, after the Paris opening in 2015.

On the product side, the brand keeps on diversifying. Besides introducing eyeglasses and sunglasses with Globex, the label will launch a range of stationery with Flammarion, wallpaper with Coordonnée, a luggage range, perfumed candles, gloves and hotel products.

Ines de la Fressange Paris provided no information on its sales volume, but for 2017 it estimated revenue retail value to be $150 million (€122 million) across all business areas, including products, licences and collaborations.