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KWANPEN is a Singapore-based manufacturer and retailer specializing in crocodile leather

goods.

History[edit]

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[edit]

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.

Collaboration[edit]

KWANPEN collaborated with Ashley Isham for the 2013 Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore providing the leather bags as accessories for the runway collection.

Conservation[edit]

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.

Milestones[edit]

1976: Opened first KWANPEN Store in Singapore on Orchard Road, selling crocodile leather bags.
1989: First KWANPEN Logo
1991: Launch of KWANPEN Raffles Handbag
1996: Opened first overseas KWANPEN Store in Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong
2000: Launch of KWANPEN Signature Collection
2002: Launch of KWANPEN Droplet Collection, Opened first KWANPEN Store in Thailand at Gaysorn, Bangkok
2005: Opened first KWANPEN Store in Malaysia at Starhill, Kuala Lumpur
2008: Opened first KWANPEN Store in Macau at Four Seasons Venetian
2011: Opened first KWANPEN Store in South Korea at Chung-Dam Dong, Seoul, Opened first KWANPEN Store in Turkey at Nişantaşı, Istanbul
2012: Opened first KWANPEN Store in Qatar at The Pearl-Qatar, Doha
2015: Opened first KWANPEN Store in the United Kingdom at Burlington Arcade, London