Marco-Cipel has become an outstanding dresser in China

One of Saga Furs’ esteemed partners, the French dressing company Cipel, founded the perfect stepping-stone when in 1985 it opened the Marco-Cipel factory in Hong Kong with Marco-Ling Fur Processing established in 1978 and owned by two local partners, Hong Kong Tientsin Ltd and Marco Fur Asia Ltd.

Within a decade a new factory was established in Shenzhen and since 2003 Marco-Cipel has operated a thriving dressing and dyeing factory around 200 kilometres from Shanghai.

Through innovative new ideas in dressing and dyeing, Cipel has long given designers many new possibilities in working with fur. Now Marco-Cipel is doing the same in a key market for fur. The company’s inspiring ideas mesh perfectly with R&D done at Saga Furs Design Centre.

Expanding with the Chinese market

Bruno Porte, managing director of Cipel, splits his time between his home in Paris and China since the Zhejiang Huzhou factory opened. He tells how the move north was made in 2003 at a time when China was interested in growing the industry to be able to compete with Hong Kong.

“Now we are handling 20,000 skins per day, mink and other sort,” he says. “Unbelievable. It’s like Paris 30 years ago.”

The Hong Kong owners of Marco-Cipel provide advantages, as the new generation running operations understands the younger domestic market, as well as international markets for top quality furs.

A new project was begun in 2011 with the reopening of a production line in Hong Kong. “It enables our customers to obtain tax-free privileges for the export of skins, according to the CEPA tariff agreement regarding Hong Kong production sent to China.”

Responsibility and quality are core values at Marco-Cipel

Saga Furs makes every attempt to find and work with partners who share the company’s values.

“At our new factory, the environmental safeguards we put in place are even stricter than in Europe or other countries. The controls are great, too,” Porte notes.  “The Chinese are able to learn from us.”

Chinese president was enthusiastic about new dressing factory in the region

When the new factory opened back in ‘03, local politicians came to inaugurate the opening. The governor of the region delivered what B calls a “charismatic speech.”

The gentleman who delivered the address was Xi Jinping.

“Who would have imagined at the time that he would one day become president of China,” says Porte.

Apr 5, 2013