South Korea’s home-grown brands have been actively seeking opportunities in foreign markets. Samsung C&T’s fashion business is working on a plan to export its women’s apparel brand Kuho and men’s apparel brand Juun. J. The company that aims to earn $90.3 million in sales from Kuho this year expects to double sales by 2020 by entering global markets such as the United States.

Juun J became the first designer in South Korea to be invited to the global men’s apparel fashion show Pitti Uomo held in Italy early this year. Korean fashion group Hyungji in September acquired De Castelbajac, the fashion label launched by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, a pioneer of the avant-garde who dressed the late Pope John Paul II, Lady Gaga and Madonna. It was one of the biggest merger and acquisition deals Korea’s indigenous fashion brands had ever made since 2000.

Hyungji, well-known for its low- and mid-tier women’s apparel brands such as Crocodile Lady and Chatelaine decided to add the French fashion line-up to its business portfolio in the hope that the deal helps not only to expand its presence in the golf-wear and handbag markets but also enter the markets for home and living goods and men and children’s clothing.