As winter approached in Haining city of Zhejiang Province, fur sales reached the peak season. A tall and thin foreign man, fluent in Chinese, is often seen in Haining China Leather City with the Chinese name FAN Ru. The young man comes from Azerbaijan and is a furrier in Haining now.
A special bond was created between Haining and FAN Ru, who started his own fur business in this city
In 2006, FAN Ru came from Azerbaijan to Shanghai to further his studies. Flourishing Shanghai reshaped his initial impression of China completely. Having spent four years at Tongji University, FAN Ru integrated himself gradually into the life in big cities.
Instead of remaining in Shanghai after his graduation from Tongji in 2011, FAN Ru decided to move to Haining, a city on the banks of the Qiantang River. His decision left his family and friends confused.
Coincidentally, FAN Ru met a furrier from his home country who was running a fur business in Haining. He worked for the businessman as an interpreter, thus creating a bond with Haining. In 2014, he decided to settle down in Haining.
In Haining, one would feel inspired with the passion to join the entrepreneurs there in starting his own business, said FAN Ru. He has witnessed the magnificent turn of leather and fur business in Haining, from a traditional industry to one of fashion when doing fur business over the years. After three years of development, Haining seems just like FAN Ru’s own hometown full of warmth and hope.
“Some of my friends who own their own businesses in my own country asked me to start my leather business when I told them I was in Haining,” FAN Ru said with a smile. Leather has become an integral part of Haining.
FAN Ru, 32, as General Manager of Haining Zhima International Trade Co., Ltd., not only sells Haining leather clothing around the world, but also purchases the best raw materials and brings them to Haining from all over the world.
With an integrated supply chain of Turkish fur manufactured at his company, FAN Ru has acquainted himself with more business owners in Haining. The owner of a leather clothing store just placed an order of 20,000 lambskin pieces from FAN’s company when he was being interviewed by Dachaojun, a reporter from a local newspaper online.
HAN Weiliang, manager of Haining Gaozheng Fur Garments Co., Ltd. talking with FAN Ru about ordering lambskin from him
"These rawhide skins are imported from Europe and then processed in Turkey, while the finished products are then sold to customers in Haining," FANRu said. He told the reporter that hundreds of thousands of pieces of fur are supplied to Haining each year.
International cooperation enables Haining leather clothing to go global
That afternoon in a fur shop on Copenhagen Street in Haining China Leather City, Fan Ru started to make his selection upon entering the shop. He was apparently a regular customer there.
A wide variety of clothing styles and fashions are in stock at the shop, said FAN Ru, and the styles are quite distinctive with the cheongsam dress being extremely popular abroad.
After picking out a few mink robes, FAN Ru selected four more fur blouses.
FAN Ru has been doing mink business for some time. "This is the first time I have seen this style, and it looks quite casual," he said to the reporter.
In the Leather City, FAN Ru feels strongly that the many enterprises no longer restrict their business to brick-and-mortar stores, as online sales are becoming more popular. Many business owners, including some entrepreneurs, have their own live-streaming studios.
Leather clothing has a bigger stage and market since the debut at Milan Fashion Week in 2018, FAN Ru said.
FAN Ru has three companies of his own, located in Haning, Shanghai, and the US. In addition, he has set up an online sales platform to help his company and other Haining enterprises go global.
“Now, many famous designers in Milan and Italy have shown their interest in cooperating with local Haining manufacturers and, as a result, Haining's leather clothing will become trendier,” said Fan Ru who also expressed his intention to cooperate with designers for a broader market.
Settling in his “Second Hometown” of Haining
“Once you spend some time in Haining, you just don’t feel like leaving here,” FAN Ru told Dachaojun. In Haining, he owns his own business and, even more importantly, a home.
In 2016, FAN Ru and his girlfriend got married after being in love for years. When FAN Ru's business and his family life became stabilized in Haining, the young couple decided to settle down in this city.
They are the parents of two kids now. "Our children live with us in Haining. For me, this is my second hometown," said FAN Ru. His face radiated with happiness while showing a family photo to the reporter.
FAN Ru rented an apartment during his past seven years in Haining. “During the seven years, my life has changed a lot. I think it would be best for us to have a house of our own now that I am already married and have two kids.” FAN Ru said. With that in mind, FAN Ru signed up for a condo tour just last month, intending to buy a house and give his wife and children a house of their own.
Source: https://zj.zjol.com.cn/news/1573850.html
