Crocodile Garments

{{Chinese

|title=Li Wah Man Shirt Factory

|t=利華民恤衫廠

|y=Leih wàh màhn sēut sāam chóng

|j=Lei6 waa4 man4 seot1 saam1 cong2

}}

When he was young, Chan learned to sew and fix sewing machines, which he used to earn money while traveling between Chinese towns in his teenage years.{{Cite web|url=https://news.ubc.ca/1997/06/12/archive-ubcreports-1997-97jun12-chan/|title=A lifetime of giving|date=1997-06-12|website=UBC News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-27}} Chan founded his company, then called the Li Wah Man Shirt Factory, in 1952.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hkmemory.hk/collections/hong_kong_products_exhibition/booths_in_the_past/crocodile_garments/index.html|title=香港記憶 {{!}} Hong Kong Memory|website=香港記憶 {{!}} Hong Kong Memory|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4460678|title=Company Overview of Crocodile Garments Limited|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2019-03-27}} The brand Crocodile Garments was introduced after Chan wanted his products to be as "tough and luxurious as crocodile skin".{{Cite web|url=http://news.singtao.ca/vancouver/2012-11-23/headline1353669650d4213451.html|title=陳氏家族創辦港鱷魚恤_星島日報_加拿大溫哥華中文新聞網。 Canada Vancouver Chinese newspaper|date=2012-11-23|website=news.singtao.ca|language=zh|access-date=2019-03-27}} The company was able to secure the trademark, initially registered in 1910{{Cite web|url=https://www.greensboro.com/clothing-companies-battle-over-crocodile-trademark-la-chemise-lacoste-a/article_f3270576-72f8-5fd4-a0b0-acd34570f1a9.html|title=Clothing companies battle over Crocodile trademark|last=Duffy|first=Tara Sullen|date=1999-10-13|website=The News & Record|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}} by Germans, before it was confiscated by British authorities after World War II.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinasspp.com/News/Detail/2012-11-1/124938.htm|script-title=zh:香港“鳄鱼恤”：不做“影子” 终成大器_资讯_中国时尚品牌网|date=2012-11-01|website=www.chinasspp.com|language=zh|access-date=2019-03-27}}{{Cite web|url=http://finance.sina.com.cn/leadership/jygl/20050225/12421384583.shtml|script-title=zh:品牌故事：威风凛凛“鳄鱼恤”_经营管理_财经纵横_新浪网|date=2005-02-25|website=finance.sina.com.cn|language=zh|access-date=2019-03-27}}

Chan retired in 1970 and passed company control to his children. Crocodile Garments was first listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1971, and in 1987, the business was sold to Lai Sun Garment, controlled by the late billionaire Lim Por Yen.[http://big5.cctv.com/commerce/20051017/101174.shtml 13元錢起家的一代富豪:林百欣生前身後事 "The Lim Por-yen story"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130119013825/http://big5.cctv.com/commerce/20051017/101174.shtml |date=2013-01-19 }}, www.cctv.com, 17 October 2005 {{in lang|zh}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/2183414/vancouver-art-gallery-gifted-us30m-hong-kong-textile-heirs|title=Vancouver gallery gifted record US$30 million by Hong Kong textile heirs|last=Tsui|first=Enid|date=2019-01-24|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}

Crocodile Garments originally sold dress shirts before expanding to become the largest chain garment store in Hong Kong. They exported to Japan, Singapore and other Asian countries. A second line called Cal-Thomas was started in CA, USA.{{Cite web|title=Crocodile|url=https://www.crocodile.com.hk/en/webpage.php?id=13&tp=2|access-date=2021-04-23|website=www.crocodile.com.hk}} Crocodile emerged as the leading fashion label{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://store.crocodile.in/pages/about-us |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=Crocodile |language=en}} with the expansion of a woman's line and a children's line called CrocoKids. At its peak, Crocodile Garments was the largest garment chain before the conception of G2000, Giordano, U2 and Bossini in the 1990s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}} In 1980, Crocodile Garments partnered with the French clothing company Lacoste to become the sole distributor of Lacoste products in Hong Kong.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/11/content_281699.htm|title=Deal takes bite out of croc fight|last=Xiao|first=Huo|date=2003-11-11|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=2019-03-27}}

Between 2015 and 2020, the share of Crocodile Garments lost 72% of its value.[https://simplywall.st/news/some-crocodile-garments-hkg122-shareholders-have-taken-a-painful-72-share-price-drop/ Some Crocodile Garments (HKG:122) Shareholders Have Taken A Painful 72% Share Price Drop], Simplywall.st, 12 June 2020 In 2019, the heirs to the Crocodile Garments fortune were ordered by the Canadian fiscal authorities to hand out documents related to an offshore company used by the heirs to make massive donations in Canada.Ian Young, [https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3024613/hong-kongs-chan-brothers-famed-charity-canada-fight-tax Hong Kong’s Chan brothers, famed for charity in Canada, fight tax investigation over KPMG offshore firms], Scmp.com, 27 August 2019

Despite the Hong Kong distribution deal with Lacoste, Crocodile had a long-standing dispute over the logo and clothing lines with the French company. Crocodile uses a crocodile logo that faces left, while Lacoste uses one that faces right.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/304139/lacoste-trademark-victory|title=Lacoste trademark victory|date=1999-12-30|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}

Lacoste had registered their trademark in mainland China in 1980,{{Cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/200310/24/eng20031024_126756.shtml|title='Crocodile' trademark infringement case concluded|date=2003-10-24|website=en.people.cn|access-date=2019-03-27}} the same year both companies agreed to let Crocodile have exclusive rights to sell Lacoste goods in Hong Kong. When Crocodile attempted to apply for a trademark in mainland China, however, Lacoste filed lawsuits in 1998 in both Hong Kong and Beijing, asking for a 3.5-million-yuan compensation. Lacoste alleged that as part of their distribution agreement, Crocodile promised to not use any logo similar to Lacoste's outside of Hong Kong.

Lacoste won their Hong Kong lawsuit in 1999. The two fought an extended fight for logo rights in China, but eventually reached a compromise in 2003. Crocodile agreed to change its logo to have a more vertical tail and more scales for its logo.[https://web.archive.org/web/20031119041002/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/10/31/crocodile.logo/ CNN.com Business - Crocodile tears end logo fight - Oct. 31, 2003] In 2013, Crocodile Garments won the right to appeal this trademark agreement in New Zealand.Hamish McNicol, [http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9144431/Crocodile-International-wins-right-to-appeal-trade-mark-decision Crocodile International wins right to appeal trade mark decision], Stuff.co.nz, 10 September 2013 In 2017, the NZ Supreme Court reinforced the "use it or lose it" trademark rule to argue in favor of Crocodile Garments' request to annul Lacoste's exclusive use of the crocodile since the French company does not commercialize its products in New Zealand.Wilson Harle, [https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d5dc53cd-738c-470c-82b7-7d4fbacf0f0c Supreme Court enforces 'use it or lose it' trademark rule], Lexology.com, 17 October 2017[https://www.dlapiper.com/en/dubai/insights/publications/2017/05/law-a-la-mode-inta-2017/lacoste-the-dangers-of-unused-trademarks/ Lacoste loses a crocodile: the dangers of unused trademarks - key takeaways for brands], Dlapiper.com, 22 May 2017

In the Philippines, the supreme court had a decision dated November 6, 2023, released on Sept. 10, 2024 against Lacoste. The high court upheld rulings from lower tribunals, dismissing Lacoste's lawsuit against Crocodile over the brand logo dispute. "The Court holds that there are pronounced differences between Lacoste’s and Crocodile’s marks, [which make] them distinguishable from one another,” the high court's 16-page ruling stated. {{Cite web |date=2024-09-16 |title=Philippine Supreme Court snaps shut Lacoste's case against Crocodile brand |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/09/16/2385686/philippine-supreme-court-snaps-shut-lacostes-case-against-crocodile-brand/amp/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.philstar.com |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://crocodileinternational.com/}}

Category:Clothing companies established in 1952

Category:1952 establishments in Hong Kong

Category:Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Category:Clothing brands of Hong Kong

Category:Clothing companies of Hong Kong

Category:Lai Sun Group

Category:Clothing retailers of Hong Kong