The Los Angeles denim purveyor inked a licensing deal with a group of Hong Kong- and Shanghai-based retail specialists to open 40 stores in China over the course of the next three years. The first store is set to open during the first half of 2015 in a 6,000-square-foot, two-level space close to the located near Jinnan Temple in Shanghai.
The multi-label store will offer a dash of California cool with the same unique vintage and contemporary merchandising mix as the original American Rag Cie in L.A.’s La Brea nabe. Shoppers will have their pick of over 50 brands including American Retro, Mother, Alpha Industries, Saturday Surf, Hollywood Rank, Kuro and more.
Peter Caplowe, co-founder of the Hub, will be at the helm the Shanghai outpost—a retail concept that he has full faith in. “We started the Hub because we firmly believed that the next stage of retail development in China would be the growth of multi-label,” Caplowe explained. He added, “We will now be a leading player in that field and have put together a great team of experienced professionals and investors that will see American Rag Cie become the leading retail brand in China in its sector.”
Expansion has been top of mind for American Rag Cie founder Mark Werts. Last summer the retailer opened a store in the sixth largest mall in the world in Bangkok. He also opened a store in Thailand.
For Werts, China was the natural and trend-right next step to take. He said, “China is becoming more influential in fashion circles and I have always embraced new trends and directions to the point where we will be working with Chinese designers to be stocked in our other stores around the world as well as bringing our skills and experience in retail to China.”
