couture-lookbook - Portfolio - Page 7
OUR HERITAGE
Chrisanne Clover is widely regarded as the go-to brand for
Ballroom dance couture and fabrics. We are a
company founded on the idea to provide dancers with
everything they would need to make the perfect garment;
a garment which combines the comfort and durability of
sportswear with the glamour and excitement of high fashion. We make shopping for your couture that much easier
by creating colour matching fabric collections in stretch
and non stretch fabrics, in a vast variety of exciting colours;
everything you need to make a Ballroom dress and more.
30 years on Chrisanne Clover is the number 1 global
brand that provides Fabrics, Accessories, Crystal,
Dancewear and Couture to not only dancers, but also
to performers, designers and the fashion scene in more
than 50 countries.
Ronnie Li, Managing Director at Chrisanne Clover is one of
the best-loved names in the world of Ballroom dancing and
acquired Chrisanne Clover in 2015.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS…
Introduced to the world of dance in China by his uncle,
China’s Ballroom star Philip Li, Ronnie grew up in
Shanghai. Captivated by the ambition, drive and glamour of
the dancing world Ronnie decided to take a bold step and
move to London in 1995, the dance capital of the world,
where he developed his business management skills at the
dancewear company, Choice London.
Ronnie instantly fell in love with the dance business ‘I got
myself more and more into it, my involvement was not just
to make money but to make friends and make it
enjoyable for myself. I am a very open person and I love to
meet people from all over the world. I used to like
seeing my friends and then they would give me orders and
it combined the two beautifully.’
Ronnie Li’s first solo venture, Crystal Clover, had
humble beginnings at a flat in Norbury, on the outskirts
of London, but quickly spilled over into a shop nearby. In
2008, Crystal Clover Japan was born. By 2015, Ronnie Li
had acquired Chrisanne, one of the best-known brands in
the world of Ballroom dance; the two businesses merged
to form Chrisanne Clover, a sparkling union that brought
together innovation, knowledge, and heritage. In June the
following year, the first Chrisanne Clover flagship store
opened its doors in Shanghai.
Ronnie had known Chrisanne for many years. Although
the two companies were competing in the same market
Ronnie kept good relations with the Chrisanne team and
prior to the merger the two businesses had in fact started
to successfully work together on several projects. In 2015
the time was right for all parties, it was a textbook merger
combining the strengths of two leading players in the industry and catapulting Ronnie into a number 1 position miles
ahead of any other competitor.
THE HERTITAGE OF CHRISANNE
Born from the frustration of sourcing fabrics to make dance
dresses and the demand of the market, Chrisanne was
born in 1986, set up by dancers Peter & Christina Dobner,
and Hans & Anne Laxholm. Their combined knowledge
and expertise became the early foundation of Chrisanne,
and the basis for a corporate culture which focuses
on dancers needs.
‘When we first started out the dance dresses had just
changed from tutu dresses to long and flowing dresses
and nobody knew how to make that look, or where to
source the fabric. This is where we stepped in...’ Peter
A similar start as Crystal Clover, Chrisanne started in a 1
bedroom flat in Norbury but then grew rapidly to a head
office and warehouse employing over 65 people and
supplying dancing goods to more than 50 countries worldwide. This earned the business a place in the league of The
Independents Top 100 companies in 1993 and 1995 as
one of the fastest growing companies in the UK.
THE HEART OF CHRISANNE CLOVER
‘We have a great team at Chrisanne Clover, I am lucky
enough to have very loyal people who have been
working with myself and Peter, supporting us and the
company for many years. Now I have a bigger platform to
make and meet more friends. The excitement of being able
to talk to people thousands of miles away to not only get an
order, but to also make a friend is a huge achievement for
me. I am very lucky.’ Ronnie
Ronnie Li lives by the mantra ‘Do what you love and then
throw yourself into it fully, never stop improving yourself
and the business, never be satisfied with being second
best and – above all – make sure you have fun on the
way!’ And if the pandemic has anything to go by, now
more than ever it is important to love what you do and
surround yourself with positivity.
