Lesenphants was born in 1971. In many ways, this company was my father’s firstbornchild. After working a number of years in the Human Resources department of alarge corporation, my father thirsted for more – more autonomy, morecreativity, more meaning. He was then 26 and approached his pediatrician motherfor advice. She described to him the everyday moments of her job, caring forchildren who were ill or receiving vaccinations, establishing relationshipswith the parents and caregivers who brought them in. But children only neededto see the doctor 15% of the time; there was still 85% of the time inchildren’s everyday routines that represented the myriad of different needs tobe taken care of. Here was an opportunity, she pointed out, a niche market thatwas, until then, still unfulfilled.
The firstles enphants shop opened on Nanjing East Road in Taipei. There was a Yamahamusic store upstairs, where grandparents and mothers would bring their childrenafter school and on weekends to attend music classes. At first, the shop wasfilled with beautiful children’s wear imported from Europe, Japan, and theUnited States. There was no other shop like it; customers visiting from thesouth would often take off their shoes upon entering the store. Very quickly,my father realized that depending on foreign production was not a sustainable wayof doing business, so he moved production back home. In the beginning, lesenphants’ “factory” was a single sewing table at the back of the shop, where asmall team of tailors made clothing for the house brand. The idea of lesenphants was borne out of my grandmother’s keen observation about children andall the ways in which their specific needs could be met. Its nascent, modestbeginnings from that one shop on Nanjing East Road quickly grew to includemultiple chain stores, department store outlets, and franchises all over theisland of Taiwan, and then in China, as well as parts of Southeast Asia. Myfather has always been an entrepreneur, but he was never just growing abusiness, but expanding upon the idea that les enphants was “committed tochildren,” and that the business could provide for children in every waypossible, so that their parents could be free to “let children be children.”
My motherwas also one of the founding members of the les enphants team, working as itsdesign consultant. Every season, she traveled to Europe and Japan to collectideas and inspiration for the following season. Even when traveling on familyand personal trips, she was always combing local markets for inspiration. In aChinese antique shop one year, my mother chanced upon a century-old child’s hatembroidered in exquisite detail, adorned with stories and symbols of faith andgood luck. The tiny hat was the embodiment of a mother’s love for her child. Inthose fine, colorful strands of thread, my mother easily imagined a pregnantwoman in rural China, sewing her hopes and dreams onto this little hat, workingtirelessly by candlelight. Thus began my mother’s collection of Chinesetextiles from the 19th and mid-20th centuries – hats, shoes, bibs, purses, babycarriers, and bedding. The expression of a parent’s love for her child woveninto the threads of an article of clothing is at the very heart of lesenphants’ core business. The tie between parent and child – as in the physicalstraps of a baby carrier – exemplify that space where les enphants exists.
lesenphants has never been about chasing the latest trend, but providing itscustomers with products of the highest quality and bringing these products tothem through warm and personal service. And more than merely selling products,my father created the business as a service to help fulfill parents’ needs fortheir children. When he was young, my father yearned to provide something thatwas meaningful and sustainable. For him, business was never about numbers, butabout building and maintaining relationships, and being a responsible andempathetic member of each community les enphants is a part of. Just as hispediatrician mother spent most of every patients’ visit getting to know thechildren she cared for and the family environment from which they came in orderto better serve their needs, my father aimed to create that same atmosphere ofcommunity and care in any les enphants store.
For this isthe les enphants story – it is about helping to preserve the innocence of childhoodwithin the protective cocoon of parenthood.
Brenda Lin
Director
CorporateSocial Responsibility Division Assistant Vice President
