Trinity’s Richard Cohen Discusses the Growing Men’s Market in China

China’s economy might be slowing — its growth rate for 2015 is expected to be 7 percent, which is the lowest it’s been in 11 years — but men’s wear continues to boom in the region, according to Richard Cohen, chief executive officer of Trinity Ltd., which owns men’s wear brands Gieves & Hawkes, Kent & Curwen and Cerruti 1881. “China is the most exciting opportunity right now,” said Cohen, who joined Trinity in 2014 after serving as the senior vice president of business development at Saks Fifth Avenue. According to MarketLine, men’s wear represents the largest category in China’s apparel sector, accounting for 43 percent of the business, or $73.3 billion. Women’s trails behind at 34 percent, followed by children’s, which makes up 23 percent of the apparel category. Despite the robust men’s wear numbers, the area faces challenges. Cohen said over the years the Chinese customer has become much more discerning and the country’s lucrative gifting culture no longer exists. But China’s rapid urbanization and growing middle class create an opportunity for brands. Trinity currently has 390 stores in China across 65 cities, and its three brands generate $400 million in annual sales. He said the brands’ success in China, which has

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