Fashion and textiles firm Ruyi, parent of  brands including Aquascutum, Cerruti1881, Sandro and Maje, is partnering with online giant JD to bring e-commerce solutions to its retail business.

JD is set to provide advanced IT support to Ruyi’s logistics, supply chain, inventory management and membership systems, and will set up a retail management system for its subsidiary brands.

Ruyi is expected to roll out JD’s virtual/AR technologies in its physical stores to enhance customer shopping experiences. The companies will also establish stores in Beijing and Shanghai to showcase JD’s smart retail systems in a fashion and lifestyle store setting.

Ruyi chairman Yafu Qiu said: “This wide-ranging partnership agreement will help upgrade Ruyi’s capabilities across the online and offline spectrum. JD’s unrivalled expertise in e-commerce and advanced logistics capabilities makes it a great partner for Ruyi as we take a world-class fashion group into the future.”

JD Fashion and Lifestyle president Shengli Hu said working with Ruyi was a step towards building the company’s vision of ‘Boundaryless Retail,’ in which consumers can buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it.

“Partnering with Ruyi, a respected name – and rising star – in the world of global fashion, is an important step in expanding our luxury offerings for that vision.”

Ruyi already has several flagship stores on JD, and is expected to load further products on the platform. The two companies will also establish a joint fashion fund to support emerging designers and brands.