Brigitte Stockfisch finds different and unusual finishes for European designers among materials sourced in the Pearl River Delta

Her specialty is providing European clients with a one-stop-shop for sourcing medium-to-high end ladies garments, accessories, beadwork, embroidery and specialist materials in mainland China. Zero.Com's client list includes Jobis, Daniel Hechter, Kathleen Madden and Rosa Ronstedt in Germany, Nomina with its labels Toilette, Holly and 9Bleach in Italy, and Pedro del Hierro in Spain.

"I set up Zero.Com in Hong Kong after spotting a demand for the hard to find materials and unusual finishes sought after by European designers who like their creations to be a bit different," Ms Stockfisch said. These items include garments made from complex materials with intricate trimmings, items decorated with hand-stitched or machine embroidery, beadings, prints, over dyed or enzyme washed fabrics, and a wide range of handicraft accessories, which can be sourced in the mainland.

"One of my clients once remarked that I specialise in the impossible, and in some ways that's what I try to do," she said. "I like the challenge of tracking down particular materials or a finish the client would like to use ─ it's one way a company like Zero.Com can add value."

The right connections

Hong Kong has well established connections with the garment industry, dating back many years, so was the natural location to set up an office. "Being based in Hong Kong allows me to be close to the production factories in the mainland and benefit from the sophisticated infrastructure that any good business relies on," Ms Stockfisch said.

The Hong Kong office handles merchandising, shipping and accounting, while a support office just across the mainland border in Shenzhen assists with the progress of orders and quality control. "My business is very hands on - working closely with designers from the original sketches, sourcing the materials and quality control, to seeing the finished product shipped to the client."

The majority of sourcing and embroidery work is carried out in factories in the Pearl River Delta, Shanghai and Hangzhou. Designers who visit Hong Kong are able to inspect a wide range of samples kept on display in the head office.

The name Zero.Com was chosen because it represents starting from scratch, with a modern, flexible outlook. Ironically, while the internet is the preferred means of communication, clients are reluctant to view or order products from a web site, preferring to visit Hong Kong where they can actually touch, and get a better feel for, the materials and accessories.  "As a small company we can accommodate production runs or unusual requests that bigger companies prefer not to handle. For example, we often work with a designer to produce a single production run ranging from few dozen items to around 10,000," Ms Stockfisch said. 

So easy to get started

Setting up a company in Hong Kong couldn't be simpler. Each government or regulatory body offers support through a telephone hotline system where it is easy to obtain friendly, helpful advice. "This allows you to focus on your business without distractions," Ms Stockfisch said.

"Hong Kong's lively business environment and generally positive attitude always makes me feel that exciting new opportunities are waiting just around the corner. The easy to follow regulations and straightforward procedures offer a stabilising influence when unexpected challenges or outside influences have an impact on the garment industry, which can be very moody.

"There are always unforeseen factors that can affect the business. You can't predict what is going to happen, but Hong Kong with its straightforward tax system and streamlined business operating procedures provides an environment that allows you to make quick adjustments that lessen the influence of the swings."