Asian Business Owners - A.B.O.23 Apr 2025

She Moved to Asia Pregnant and Jobless. Now She Runs 50 Fashion Stores

From jobless and pregnant to fashion powerhouse in Asia.

When Ariane Zagury moved to Hong Kong, she had no plan, no job, and was expecting her first child.

But with determination and a vision, she built Rue Madame Fashion Group, which now operates over 50 fashion boutiques across Asia featuring iconic brands like American Vintage, Maje, Sandro, Claudie Pierlot, Sweat Betty and so on...

In this episode of Asian Business Owners, Ariane shares her inspiring story of reinvention, what it really takes to thrive in Asia’s retail scene and the key moments that defined her journey as an entrepreneur.

Listen and learn more about:

– Building a business from scratch

– Fashion entrepreneurship in Asia

– Career pivots and personal growth

– Resilience and women leadership

Content:

(00:45) Meet Ariane: Owner of Rue Madam Fashion Group

(03:04) Reflecting on Success and Personal Life

(08:23) Opening the First Shop in Asia

(12:44) Quick Fire Questions with Ariane

(14:33) Building a Retail Empire

(18:59) The Reality of Business Plans and Profitability

(20:44) Signing the First Joint Venture with American Vintage

(22:08) A Journey of Persistence with SMCP

(30:16) The Birth of Clemence Brand

(31:52) The Fashion Scene in Asia

(33:27) Expanding into Mainland China

(35:06) Lessons Learned from Mistakes

👉 To find out more:

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