Singapore’s home-grown European-style fashion brand Raoul will open in China in mid-September under a franchise agreement.

Franchisee, Chongqing-based Budy Import & Export Trading, owned by entrepreneur Anderson Wang, will open a total of 27 stores in key cities in China, including in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu by 2017.

“This is the first major franchise deal we’ve signed for Raoul and I’m pleased that we’ve found in Anderson a partner who is energetic, enterprising and understands the DNA of Raoul,” said COO Douglas Benjamin of FJ Benjamin Group, which owns Raoul brand.

“In the three years since we internationalised the Raoul brand, we’ve been greatly encouraged by the response we’ve received in the fashion capitals of London, New York and Paris, as well as by the international fashion media. Our plan is to build on this momentum and to take Raoul to greater heights in overseas markets.”

Raoul was created in 2012 by husband and wife Douglas and Odile Benjamin, to fill the niche for a “quality but affordable” men’s shirt label. In recent years, it branched out to womenswear, accessories and leather goods, which now account for more than half of its sales.

It is one of two in-house brands for the FJ Benjamin Group, the other being Catherine Deane.

Raoul is sold in Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Outside the region, it is available through selected retailers in Paris, Milan, London and New York.

“China is expected to be the largest fashion market in the next five years and we believe that it is ready to embrace accessible luxury brands like Raoul,” said Wang.

Besides its two house brands, FJ Benjamin Group also manages fashion and lifestyle brands in Singapore, including Banana Republic, Celine, Gap, Givenchy, Goyard, Guess, La Senza, Sheridan, Converse, VNC, Nautica, Bell & Ross and more.