With many patents to its name and among the first Asian companies to be awarded the prestigious VIP prize for innovation at the Modamont, Taiwanese zipper giant KCC has recently entered India under its own brand name, ready to take on competition from both global players and domestic leaders. In its pursuit of promoting the brand, the company has in the recent months taken part in two accessory fairs, in Bangalore and Tirupur and is now looking for dealers to take the product directly to the industry. Very confident of the wide product range that the company can offer, Candy Tang, Sales Manager, and Tommy Nien, Sales Supervisor representing the company share with Apparel Online, the strategy of KCC to capture Indian market.
Today, the garment manufacturing business is a highly competitive industry where besides price and quality of a product, the fashion value is also of utmost importance. Every trim and accessory that goes into the making of a garment has its own value and every company manufacturing such products is vying to create its own USP, to be a preferred choice. A relatively new entrant into the zipper market under its own brand name, KCC is thriving on its R&D to give the sewn industry zippers that are different and also performance driven. “We can say proudly that we have the world’s largest range of zippers, some of which are exclusively our forte like small zippers, which no other company is manufacturing,” says Candy.
With manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and China, the R&D is happening at both factories as also at its headquarters in Taiwan. Solutions for not only evolving needs of the fashion industry, but also other products is equally a focus area. The company claims to have an anti-theft zipper. These double coil zippers are suitable for luggage and no amount of poking with sharp object can split open the zippers, ensuring complete security. “We have tested these zippers in extreme conditions and guarantee that the patented locking system is unbreakable,” says Tommy.
A product range that the company is very upbeat about is the collection of invisible zippers, which includes open end variant, another patented product from KCC. “Invisible zippers are used mostly for fashion wear and also applied in places where there is extra pressure like the back of skirts, so we have improvised the product to overcome some of the common issues associated with application of invisible zippers,” quips Candy. The innovations include movable bottom stop so that over the time, and with usage, the zippers don’t open up at the bottom, and hook & eye is attached to the zippers to reinforce the slider locking at the top of the garment. The variety of tapes used is also immense from regular polyester to denim, jacquard, satin, printed, cotton and pattern tapes for the unique look.
Besides invisible zippers, KCC is also offering spiral, plastic, polyester and metal zippers in a wide variety of options. Special attributes like waterproof, fire retardant, polish and plating, antique finish are but some of the properties that KCC can offer to its customers spread across the globe. A preferred supplier to many, KCC zippers is being used for brands like Armani Exchange, Converse, Champion, Salomon, Reiker and to name a few. “Our completely integrated setup at our manufacturing units ensures both quality and competitive pricing. All processes are done in-house and every norm, being it environment or safety, is adhered to,” avers Tommy. The company is very excited with the growth opportunities which India has to offer and is looking for partners to support the promotional activities to acquaint the industry with the product range available. “We have been in India for many years, not in our own brand name, but as OEM for leading brands. Now we want to promote our brand and with India’s large domestic market and fashion-oriented export market looking upward, our product is a perfect match for the growth that is expected in the coming years,” says Candy. The company is hoping that the trade agreement that is underway between India and Vietnam will come through as it would substantial affect prices with duty waivered off. “We have studied the market and also how we can position ourselves, if the trade agreement with Vietnam goes as scheduled, very soon we will be cheaper than even many companies producing in the country,” argues Tommy.
Armed with a collection of zippers that are truly international and pricing that will be very sharp and competitive, KCC is ready to give market leaders a good fight for a share in the zipper market. “We may be relatively unknown in India but worldwide we are known for our innovations, reliability, quality and service, the same factors that will support our growth in India also,” signs off Candy confidently.
