Wing Son Garments Limited

Within the past 18 years, Wing Son Garments Ltd, has become one of Canada's leading manufacturers of high quality active wear, providing apparel for international clothiers such as Nike, Roots, Jones Apparel Group and Columbia Sportswear, as well as urban designer brands like Yoko Deveraux in New York.

Few companies of this size in Ontario can also control a vertically integrated manufacturing process, making Wing Son Garments a one-stop shop where clients can oversee every stage of production from design to distribution.

"When I look back, I don't think I can do it one more time," says Chak Wai Cheng, president and CEO of Wing Son Group, parent company for Wing Son Garments Ltd. "What I had gone through was a small miracle. It was a lot of hard work, luck and good staff."

With more than 80 per cent of sales in domestic revenues, Wing Son Garments' success is now in its third generation, creating a springboard for Mr. Cheng to expands his empire though Wing Son Group, a diversified holding company with a fashionable retail clothing line, in-stock clothing program, real estate developments, lifestyle brands, and business financing.

Despite the phenomenal growth of Wing Son Group, Wing Son Garments is the heart of the operation that grows on Canadian soil from a family tradition of high quality practice and production.

In 1978, Cheng arrived in Canada on his own from Hong Kong, with a poor grasp of English, only $200 in his pocket and hopes for a better life for his family.

He held three jobs and later followed in his father's footsteps--who made Chinese traditional jackets named mien knap at home and sold them on Hong Kong streets--moving up the ladder at Central Garments, a Canadian company run by his brother, Chak-Lim Cheng.

In 1988, Cheng established Wing Son in partnership with older siblings Debra Tse and Gary Cheng as a modest contracting company of five employees and ten sewing machines.

The Ontario-based company was named in honour of their father, Chow 'Wing', whose last character of his name phonetically translates to 'forever'. The 'Son' part of the company name represents the fundamental value for the company, in which both characters paired together translates phonetically into 'forever trust'.

Company facilities now total over 200,000 square-feet of space for in-house cutting, sewing, embroidering, labeling, screen-printing, dying, washing, packaging and distributing product.

Operating as a boutique-style manufacturer--customizing merchandise orders from 200 units per style--gives clients greater flexibility and control over the final product. While this involves more labour intensive work, the business prides itself on the family's history of producing quality textiles.

"Working with family is not an easy thing, but we share the same goals and there is a level of trust," says Mr. Cheng. "We don't argue in terms of money, but in our work."

Though time-honored knowledge of the business is passed from each generation, the company ultimately serves a modern market as one of the most technologically advanced manufacturers operating in Canada.

"I'm more open to newer concepts and willing to invest in progressive equipment and practices/method/software, knowing if we don't go with the flow, we would be out of date one day," says Mr. Cheng.

Wing Son Garments is among the first manufacturers in Canada to conduct business via email, increasing efficiency, decreasing costs, and allowing clients to make instant approvals for quicker delivery times.

Gary Cheng helped Wing Son Garments develop a computerized system that saves time in the manufacturing process and can pinpoint an order's status at any stage of production.

Wing Son Garments also employs automatic laser cutting machines, and created a garment treatment system to control shrinkage, twisting and durability for clothes to retain its original shape.

"My competition is not on price, it's on good products, services and relationships," says Mr. Cheng. "Our clients know they're paying a premium, but they have high expectations."

While Wing Son Garments earns success and recognition for its quality product, Mr. Cheng acknowledges that it is not possible without public support, thanking the community through donations, educational programs and charitable involvement.

For ten years, Wing Son Garments supplied "Wear Your Bear" shirts for Sick Kids annual fundraiser, and are longtime sponsors of Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation.

They sponsor athletic teams, fund scholarships, facilitate factory tours and provide a fundraising program with wholesale prices for charities and non-profit organizations.

Yet the most significant contribution to the community for Mr. Cheng is the satisfaction of providing employment for Canadians who each have their own dreams to fulfill, much like he did.

"Some people's businesses are moving back to China, but I believe there is a need for domestic manufacturers," says Mr. Cheng. "People ask me why not go to China and open a factory, but my roots are already here. I loved Canada the day I arrived."