Fritz Lin, Rongxin He, and Raymond Tang founded TOUCHEU after an MBA at CUHK Business School. They’re using their online marketplace to tackle the fashion industry’s dirty secret
When you think of polluting industries, visions of fossil fuel guzzling turbines and earth-churning machinery probably come to mind. But the clothes on the racks in your local shopping mall are just as dirty when it comes to environmental damage.In fact, after oil, the fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world—looks really can kill.
When you start to tally up the environmental costs of growing cotton—and the pesticides, herbicides, and oil-powered machinery involved—you start to get an idea of how those mass-produced clothes aren’t as ‘clean’ as you’d hope. This is before any transportation or factory manufacturing has occurred.
It was this discovery, along with a love of sustainably handmade products, that led three MBA graduates from Hong Kong’s CUHK Business School —Fritz Lin, Rongxin He, and Raymond Tang—to create their startup TOUCHEU, Asia's first sustainable handmade fashion and lifestyle marketplace.
Fritz first came to understand the fashion industry’s dirty secret while travelling through fashion centers in Suzhou, China, Paris, and Florence.
“Mass production is good from a business perspective, but it’s detrimental to the environment and our wellbeing—most people are not aware of the impact they're making from their lifestyle,” Fritz explains.
“I always question the clothes I’m wearing; the briefcase I am carrying; and food I am eating. Are they made of organic materials? How about recycled? All these thoughts formed the foundation of TOUCHEU, which appreciates the value of fine craftsmanship and conscious living.”
This sentiment was shared by Rongxin. “I saw the unique value of handmade products, not found elsewhere, that triumphs over mass-produced goods. Hence, the founding of Toucheu,” she says.
“I also realized that we need to take action by doing something that benefits the society. CUHK care about social responsibility rather than career promotion. Creating value above profitability is what I really appreciate most.”
For both budding entrepreneurs, joining the CUHK MBA was a decision based on its strong reputation, ranking, and its education on business in China—the school’s MBA program is ranked first in Asia and, with its 50-year history, has the largest alumni network in the region.
Operating in China’s digital marketplace, the MBA has gone a long way in helping the trio to break into an industry they had no previous experience of before
Fritz explains: “Firstly, the MBA gave me credentials. CUHK is a highly-respected university in Greater China and overseas. This has gained me trust and respect from my business contacts, partners and associates.
“Secondly, my China business and entrepreneurship focus strengthened my skills in projecting a short-term and long-term plan for the company. Starting a business in China means you need to know the country, trends and issues; the MBA's strong network across the country has provided many benefits.”
While it’s early days for their company, Fritz, Rongxin and Raymond are working hard to make sure their online platform stands the test of time and becomes a big player in the market.
The throwaway nature that these grads are looking to change stretches from East to West. Determined to have an impact across the globe, there seems to be no better place to have studied an MBA than at CUHK Business School in Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong, a melting pot of East and West, is definitely the perfect destination to study and experience,” explains Rongxin.
“Our big ambition is to lead the cross-border marketplace sector and proliferate exchanges of different cultures and craftsmanship that are embedded in each artisanal product. At the same time, we’re educating the
market about sustainability and wellness.
“We take things one step at a time, and our next step is to develop brand awareness through online-to-offline initiatives. We hope that TOUCHEU will become an essential part of people’s lives across the world.”
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
