Founded Singapore (1938) Area served Asia, Europe | Founder Kwan Pen Seng | |
Industry Luxury bags and leather goods Headquarters KWANPEN Building, Singapore Key people Leonard Kwan (President) | ||
KWANPEN is a Singapore-based manufacturer and retailer specializing in crocodile leather goods.
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History
The company was founded by Kwan Pen Seng in 1938. He started out in the leatherworking industry by offering restoration services for leather handbags owned by the wives of British officers and businessmen. This led the founder to start his trade in manufacturing crocodile leather bags from his home-based workshop. Kwanpen gradually expanded in mid-1970s to include contract work from top Western labels and the first Kwanpen retail shop opened on Orchard Road in 1976. In 1980, Mr Leonard Kwan, current president of the company, took over the business from his father and the brand’s logo, inspired by the family’s first name, was created in 1989. The first Kwanpen overseas retail outlet was opened in Hong Kong in 1999. Since then, Kwanpen has expanded its reach internationally to countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea and Hong Kong and also operate at department store standalone counters in Bangkok, Seoul and Busan.
Products
All Kwanpen bags are still manufactured in Singapore using the center belly-cut crocodile leather under trained craftsmen where most of the manufacturing is done manually.
The main collections in the Kwanpen lineup are the Raffles, Droplet, Signature and Classic collections. Their iconic Raffles handbag was created in 1991, and the oldest design still in production is the Lady’s Classic handbag first created in 1983.
Conservation
The company, who has been a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources/ Crocodile Specialist Group since 1985, only buys crocodile skin that comes with certification from CITES. All goods produced and exported by Kwanpen are accompanied with this certification.