Thai fashion distributor Star Fashion plans to expand its portfolio of brands to meet the rising demand for foreign products.

Vipop Tatiyamaneekul, MD of Star Fashion, said the company will invest more than 300 milion baht (US$9.76 million) to add 10-15 lifestyle brands through next year to its existing 35 brands.

“Shoppers’ lifestyles have changed a lot in the past few years. They are willing to choose brands with products to fit their lifestyles regardless of the price. They no longer care much about brand names,” Tatiyamaneekul said.

Star Fashion distributes brands including US sportswear brand Columbia, British sandal brand FitFlop, Spanish brand Desigual and UK brand Boxfresh.

Besides, adding more brands, Star Fashion also plans to open more shops to capture big share of Thai fashion market which is projected to rise at an annual rate of 20-40 per cent over the next few years.

“We have a positive view of the future and we believe the potential is still great even through more fashion brands are parading into the country,” he said.

Star Fashion expects sales to reach 2.4 billion baht (US$78.09 million) this year, 50 per cent higher than 2011 and 3 billion (US$97.61 million) by next year. It operates more than 500 stores in the leading department stores in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Myanmar as well.

GB