The only business-to-customer brand featuring functional garments and underwear will greet Chinese customers with five retail stores by the end of 2017, with more on course to open next year, said Serge Vigouroux, Invista's executive vice-president for business development.

Late in June, Serge Brunschwig, chairman and CEO of Fendi, told China Daily that "a brand like Fendi must communicate with the people of today and tomorrow, even if they cannot afford Fendi now".