When most people think about sustainability in fashion, the conversation often begins and ends with materials. Recycled polyester, organic cotton, and biodegradable fabrics dominate the narrative. But here’s the truth: materials are only one part of the equation — and focusing exclusively on them overlooks larger, systemic issues in production. Let’s challenge the status quo: … Read more
BBC World News Asia Business Report interviewed Lever Style Chairman Stanley Szeto the day after 15% tariffs on US$112bn worth of Chinese goods kicked in. Stanley fears that no one knows where the trade war is going, and he wouldn’t be surprised if President Trump one day decides to slap tariffs on Vietnam or even … Read more
At the 7th China & Asia Textile Forum 2019, Lever Style Chairman Stanley Szeto explained that any trade deal that will be struck between Presidents Trump and Xi will mean only a temporary truce, as the strategic competition between the two superpowers is causing the gradual but irreversible decoupling of the two economies. For suppliers … Read more
According to EY, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program is one of the world’s most prestigious business accolades for entrepreneurs as it honors entrepreneurs who inspire others with their outstanding vision, leadership and achievement. Since 1986, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award has been presented to winners in over 60 countries. The … Read more
Lever Style Executive Chairman Stanley Szeto was a keynote speaker at the DBS Apparel Disrupt conference in Hong Kong on November 6, 2018. He spoke about how the Washington establishment’s view has shifted from regarding China as a developing country worth integrating into the global community to a strategic competitor vying for global influence. According … Read more
Lever Style Executive Chairman Stanley Szeto spoke about the future of automation at International Apparel Federation’s World Fashion Convention in Maastricht, the Netherlands, on October 10, 2018. Stanley made the case that automation has provided only incremental benefits up to now, but revolutionary advances are on the horizon. He spoke about how sewing automation will … Read more
Lever Style CEO Eddie Chan was elected as Chairman of Hong Kong Institution of Textile and Apparel in July 2017. Established in 1983, HKITA’s mission is to improve the industry’s academic and professional standards so as to enhance the competitiveness of the industry in Hong Kong. To accomplish this goal, the body organizes courses, forums … Read more
Lever Style received the Smooth Operators award from Stitch Fix at the annual Vendor Celebration in San Francisco. Lever Style partners with Stitch Fix on private label woven shirts, knit shirts, trousers, denim, blazers and dresses. Stitch Fix is the world’s leading personal styling service with sales of US$977 million in the fiscal year ending … Read more
Eddie Chan succeeded Stanley Szeto as CEO of the group on January 1, 2017. Eddie was an instrumental part of the group during his first tenure in 1988-2003, and again after he re-joined the group in 2015. Eddie last held the positions of COO and President, after he had held numerous positions in sales, production, … Read more
Lever Style Chairman and CEO Stanley Szeto received the Supplier of the Year award from AllSaint’s CEO William Kim. AllSaints has been taking the contemporary fashion world by storm, and gaining customers the world over with its contemporary aesthetics. It partners with Lever Style on men’s shirts, trousers, jackets, suits, coats and women’s jackets.
On behalf of the Hong Kong Textile Council, Lever Style Chairman & CEO Stanley Szeto delivered the opening address at the Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong on March 14, 2016. The Prime Source Forum is an annual gathering of senior executives from over twenty countries, who come together to discuss the key challenges and … Read more
Hong Kong Textile Council is the umbrella organization comprising of thirteen major textile and garment associations, whose business activities range from spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing, garment making and the manufacture of textile goods. The Council acts as the voice for the industry and works closely with various governments and authorities. Stanley was elected … Read more
The Economist, January 2015 The full Economist Intelligence Unit report, Free Trade Frontier? Hong Kong businesses and the future of FTAs, can be downloaded here >. This is an excerpt: But labour costs will always be an issue in Shenzhen. Textiles were once a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s vibrant manufacturing sector, but in line with … Read more
As anti-Chinese riots rage in Vietnam, with resulting fatalities and burned down factories, Wall Street Journal reporter Kathy Chu examines how the anti-Chinese sentiment is affecting Vietnam’s attractiveness for Hong Kong-based manufacturers In the article “Vietnam Factory Riots: The View From Hong Kong,” dated May 16, 2014. Willy Lin, the deputy chairman of the Federation … Read more
Lever Style Chairman and CEO Stanley Szeto received the Quality Supplier Award from Uniqlo’s Chairman Tadashi Yanai. Uniqlo has one of the world’s most stringent quality standards, and Yanai-san wrote that Lever Style “consistently provides [Uniqlo] with products of the highest caliber.”
World Wildlife Fund (“WWF”), the world’s leading conservation organization with operations in 100 countries and 5 million members globally, invited Lever Style to be one of three pilot companies in the world to take part in its Low Carbon Manufacturing Program (“LCMP”). Lever Style is the only apparel company selected. As part of the LCMP … Read more
Gap Inc. declared in an official statement that Lever Style’s social compliance standard is a “model for others to follow.” Gap also noted that Lever Style is accredited by SA8000, “a premier set of global labor standards.” Gap was responding to a report by human rights activist group China Labor Watch (“CLW”), which classified Lever … Read more
On April 22, 2008, Earth Day, twelve leading apparel and textile firms from Hong Kong formed the Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium (“SFBC”) to promote environmentally-friendly manufacturing and sustainability in the fashion industry. Lever Style is one of the twelve founding members. The twelve founding members are recognized by the industry as pioneering, forward-thinking companies that … Read more
Below is an excerpt from pages 256-281 in Fugitive Denim by Rachel Louise Snyder: I had no illusions about being taken to a factory with sub-par conditions, but what I found was even beyond the best I’d seen in Cambodia. Later, I learned it was one of Gap’s model factories (managers accuse Gap of having … Read more
Now that its products capabilities extend beyond shirts and blouses with the Trinity acquisition, Lever Shirt is re-branding itself as Lever Style. This new corporate identity signifies the company’s transformation to a multi-product category company, yet stresses its total focus on the company’s vision – manufacturing garments for the world’s top fashion brands.
Lever Shirt acquired the PRC outerwear and tailoring manufacturing arm of Trinity on April 1, 2007. Founded almost 40 years ago, Trinity has been considered one of the top constructed suit makers in Asia, with clients including many haute couture labels such as Armani Collezioni, Hugo Boss, and Paul Smith. Its factories in Shenzhen, China, … Read more
Auto Industry Efficiency Inspires Apparel MakerLever Shirt is using Toyota’s successful production line methods to boost shirt production.By Philip S. Blackman Producing millions of shirts and blouses each year Lever Shirt the manufacturing power behind many of the world’s top brands including Banana Republic, Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, Ann Taylor, John Varvatos, and Yves Saint … Read more
Roger Tredre, WGSN, October 25, 2005 Many Hong Kong-based companies have positioned themselves carefully to withstand this year’s quota uncertainty. WGSN spoke with Stanley Szeto, CEO of Lever Shirt, a shirt specialist that supplies clients such as Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Tommy Hilfiger. Summary Hong Kong-based Lever Shirt has two factories in Shenzhen that … Read more
