Fashion

2024.12.23

Exotic is not sustainable? KWANPEN’s traditional inheritance and production background brings up the issue of true sustainability.

photographer:JUN YASUI
stylist:JUNKO KOBASHI
hair:WAKA ADACHI
makeup:NAO YOSHIDA
model:ALEX STEIN
text: CONOMI MATSUURA

Exotic is not sustainable?  KWANPEN’s traditional inheritance and production background brings up the issue of true sustainability.

KWANPEN, an exotic leather brand from Singapore, was born in 1938 and has been loved by people of all ages for its sophisticated design and high quality materials. KWANPEN has been famous for its products using crocodile leather since its establishment, and its unique beauty and durability are appealing.

Timeless, sought-after masterpieces

KWANPEN was founded in 1938 by master craftsman Kwan Pen Seng as a brand focusing on crocodile leather. Currently, the brand mainly offers ladies’ handbags and ladies’ clutches. The sophisticated design of each product has a timeless and enduring beauty. The variety of colors and the wide coverage of bags for different occasions are also probably the reason why they continue to be chosen. The distinctive symmetrical design of the signature series Raffles 1819 is said to represent family and business. As a family business, Jonathan Kwan is now the third generation, and his skills have been passed down through generations.

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ECO VEGAN BODYSUIT WOLFORD | BAG KWANPEN | NECKLACE SWAROVSKI JEWELRY | GROVES, TIGHTS, SHOES STYLIST’S OWN

Strictly Inherited Craftsmanship

Bags made of the finest crocodile leather are carefully finished by hand. At least 30 hours are spent on each handbag. Artisans working in the factory undergo a two-year training program under the supervision of a craftsman with more than 20 years of experience. The systematic education system ensures the continuation and transmission of high skills. The original hardware is manufactured in Italy, and there are also unique designs with crocodile motifs. The sophisticated process of dyeing, sewing, and other operations are all done by hand to create a product that is both luxurious and durable.

Awareness of the use of animals in products

When buying a brand that uses animal skins, one of the criteria for selection is whether or not the brand is aware of the need for a sustainable animal environment. KWANPEN has been the member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature/Crocodile Specialist Group since 1985 and oly used crocodiles that have been approved and certified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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LONG COAT, LEATHER JACKET SEFR | BODYSUIT WOLFORD | BAG KWANPEN | GROVES, SHOES STYLIST’S OWN

Keep up the effort to continue using it

The finished bags are always subjected to the strictest quality control. They are carefully checked for stitches and snags, and stress tested to ensure durability.
KWANPEN also fosters a culture of caring for each product by providing consumers with information on how to maintain and care for their products to ensure their long-lasting use.

KWANPEN truly admires traditional techniques and spares no effort to pass them on. Truly sustainable consumption means loving brands that you want to pass on to future generations. KWANPEN’s products are not just fashion items, but timeless works of art, symbolizing a step toward a sustainable future.

【Refernces】
https://kwanpen.myshopify.com/blogs/our-stories/the-art-of-craftmanship
https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/people/kwanpen-leather-goods-singapore-jonathan-kwan-191661
https://www.fashion-press.net/brands/955
https://golden.com/wiki/KWANPEN-8WV8PY

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Sustainability Anquete

KWANPEN

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writer

Conomi Matsuura

Writer/Editor. After working for a Tokyo-based publishing company specializing in fashion and culture, moved myself to my hometown, Nara, Japan.
While traveling back and forth between the city and the countryside, currently exploring the idea of a society that naturally recycles.