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Ril Creed launches in Hong Kong

Ril Creed launches in Hong Kong

RIL CREED’s collection of sustainable and ethical Japanese handbags opens its first flagship boutique in Hong Kong.

Retail in Asia joined the opening and met Johanna Chan – co-founder of LOHAS Trading Development that brought Ril Creed to Hong Kong in 2014 and now opens its flagship store in Fashionl Walk.

We asked her to present us Ril Creed and its core values, but also her plan to give the brand a global exposure starting from her home.

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RiA : Ril Creed combines sustainable materials and high-end Japanese design for a new function luxury. Who are Ril Creed’s customers?

Johanna : Our customers are women in their 25 to 35.  Women who are independent, very conscious about both environment and their own impact on the world.

They are very ambitious and they want to change the world.  So, they use handbags as an accessory to carry with them while achieving their goals in both career and private life.

RiA : Can you give some more details about the Japanese design and what are the key ingredients which characterize Ril Creed  handbags?

Johanna : The key design features are clean and polished lines, professional style, and also very light weight and softness.

RiA : Ril Creed is very popular back in Japan, and that is a good reason to plan an expansion. Why launching in Hong Kong and which other Asian countries are you  targeting?

Johanna : Hong Kong is home to me. So, definitely I wanted to bring Ril Creed design from Japan to Hong Kong. But, I see it more as a product where different countries intersect. We have Japanese design, but we also have the best material from Italy. We go to Italy, to different companies, furniture, fashion, and we work with material that would be wasted otherwise.

So, Japanese design, and Italian material, for example, travel to Hong Kong through Ril Creed.

Hong Kong is an international city and its inhabitants are exposed to international trends,  so the design product of Ril Creed incarnate the cosmopolitan identity of its customers.  After Hong Kong, we are looking at  Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand.

RiA : Do you thing Ril Creed has the right brand identity and  product to plan a global expansion?

Johanna : Absolutely! Scandinavian countries, for example, have a very similar aesthetics and design. Very minimalistic, and sustainability-conscious.

Our core value is sustainability and we believe that, being everybody’s matter, Ril Creed can bring ethical practice internationally.

SEE ALSO : LUXARITY : sustainable luxury is everybody’s business

Launched in 2012 in Japan and 2014 in Hong Kong, The Japanese handbag label RIL CREED is designed by Hanada Kazue, a seasoned designer who has been the design chief at the coveted Kitson Japan.

With over two decades of experience, Kazue’s designs are made for the modern working women on the go. Using only fine genuine leather, with on-trend colours and versatile designs, each of RIL CREED’s handbags are made for every smart-casual occasion.

Made to empower every modern women, each RIL CREED handbag is designed in Tokyo and handmade by artisans with age old craftsmanship. With a vision to revolutionize the handbag industry by using sustainable, upcycled materials and encouraging women to see beyond luxury items, RIL CREED redefines handbags as a tool to collect experiences and a companion in women’s journey to change the world.

Ril Creed
Source : Ril Creed

RIL CREED’s latest collection is inspired by owls, a spirited animal that symbolizes a deep connection, intuition, and wisdom of the soul. It represents change, transformation, and clarity. The brand aims to empower women through efforts to use sustainable materials and offcuts from factories. This season, upcycled sheepskin, faux fur and suede has been transformed into clean, elegant and effortless designs.

Born in the 1970s, Hanada Kazue is Chief Designer of one of Japan’s most sought-after handbag brands, RIL CREED. Previously the design chief at Kitson Japan, Hanada has a deep understanding of what a woman needs when it comes to handbags. She has designed some of the bestsellers for the JAYRO, Kitson and Julia Parker labels, and brings to RIL CREED her renowned expertise.

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A seasoned handbag designer with over 20 years of experience, Hanada has created a beautiful, smart-casual collection for RIL CREED using only the finest genuine leather and horsetail in a variety of on-season, contemporary colours.

These fashionable and practical designs from Hanada have been extremely popular amongst professional women in Japan and California, and have now set pulses racing amongst Hong Kong’s fashionistas.