Metersbonwe

Metersbonwe is a Chinese casualwear brand founded by Zhou Chengjian, with its first store opened in Wenzhou on 22 April 1995. It targets consumers aged 18 to 25 and in the 2000s grew quickly through franchising.

What is Metersbonwe?

Metersbonwe is a Chinese casualwear brand aimed at 18 to 25 year old consumers. Its slogan is Be Different. Wikipedia names Zhou Chengjian as president and founder.

History

The first store opened in Wenzhou on 22 April 1995. Zhou reportedly borrowed 200,000 yuan and in the early 1990s sold clothes by day and tailored them by night. Growth came from franchising and from designers, and the singer Jay Chou was named brand ambassador in 2003. A new Shanghai headquarters, which includes a fashion museum, opened in late 2005.

Scale and reporting

The source reports about 1,800 stores across China as of early 2007, and a best selling position in 2004 with earnings of about 3 billion yuan in 2005. These are dated figures and should not be read as current. In 2011 Greenpeace's Dirty Laundry report accused the brand of working with suppliers linked to river pollution.

Ownership

The page mentions no ownership changes and does not describe the current shareholder structure. Given that Chinese apparel companies often change hands, the current owner is left out here rather than assumed.

Why it matters

Metersbonwe was among the first Chinese domestic casualwear brands to reach national scale through franchising and celebrity marketing. It is a useful case for the rise of local mass market apparel competitors to international fast fashion in China.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Metersbonwe?

Metersbonwe was founded by Zhou Chengjian, whose first store opened in Wenzhou on 22 April 1995.

Where is Metersbonwe from?

Metersbonwe is from China. It started in Wenzhou and later moved its headquarters to Shanghai.

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