A Scottish manufacturer has announced that it has secured a major new contract with a leading Chinese clothing firm. The deal, which is worth £375,000, will see Langholm based Reid and Taylor supply 15,000 square metres of some of its highest quality fabric to Yeliya, based in Shandong Province, China. 
The material will be used to make suits for the senior leadership of the Bank of China and Reid and Taylor secured the work over other Scottish, UK and international manufacturers.
David Ogilvie, Managing Director of Reid and Taylor, described it as “an important contract for our business. The China market has huge potential for us, especially given the increasing demand for luxurious and prestige fabrics. It’s a natural fit for Reid and Taylor, given our heritage and history. We hope this is the first of many new deals to be done as we seek to grow the business both in China and Asia as a whole.”
Yeliya was first established in 1981 and specialises in high end men’s suits, coats and shirts. Due to an increase in demand for its premium products, they need to source top end fabrics from around the world. They first met Reid and Taylor two years ago following introductions from China Chamber of Commerce and Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise’s international arm. They visited 10 textiles mills across the UK, including six in England and received samples of fabrics which the companies said would best suit Yeliya’s styles.
According to Yuan Wenhe, President of Yeliya, “Our customers demand the best materials so it is really important we find the right partner. We did a lot of homework and Reid and Taylor stood out for both quality and style and can 100 per cent meet our requirements. We’re very confident about our judgement.”
Fiona Topping
Scottish Development International
The news come as 16 other Scottish textiles and design businesses are targeting the China market by participating in a Scottish pavilion at CHIC in Beijing, one of Asia’s leading clothing and accessories fair. The trade mission was organised by Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise’s international arm.
Fiona Topping, senior executive in Scottish Development International’s textiles team, said it was “great news both for Reid and Taylor and for Scotland’s textiles sector. Our week in Beijing has helped to highlight both the opportunities and challenges for the industry in trying to break into the China market. Forging relationships with Chinese partners and agents is going to be absolutely critical for companies achieving success here. This deal only goes to show the potential if we get it right.”