Samsung is synonymous with electronics. But beneath that global recognition is a long and impressive history tied to fashion, and this season, the Korean company, a CFDA Strategic Partner, is building on that legacy.

Consider the Samsung history. The company actually began as a small export business in Korea in 1938. , After the Korean War, Samsung C&T Fashion Group (formerly Cheil Industries) was established in 1954 as a textile company that owned factorieswith a high level of craftsmanship marked its success.

“Our fashion business evolved with the licensing business; especially in the 70s and 80s,” said Jean Colin, Vice President of Global Expansion, Samsung C & T Fashion Division. “Our company portfolio really explains Korean culture. In the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and until recently, Korea mainly consisted of a male workforce, similar to Japan. We therefore had major suit producing and are very good in wool textile fabrics for men’s clothing.”

As South Korea started to become a market with luxury growth potential, many international brands looked for ways to enter the region with a partner. Enter Samsung C&T Fashion Group, now the largest player in Korean fashion industry.

Among the brands Samsung distributes are Theory, Tory Burch, Rick Owens, Thom Browne, and rag & bone. It also owns original brands such as Galaxy and Beanpole.

“We became a distributor for a lot of brands,” Colin said. “We manage their businesses, operate their stores, and have a presence there to work with the headquarters.”

There is also the Samsung Fashion Design Fund (SFDF) – a tool to help Korean designers grow their businesses, including CFDA Member Siki Im, who took home the prize in 2011.

This New York Fashion Week featured Kuho, the advanced contemporary brand owned by Samsung.

“Kuho has been around for over 10 years in Korea,” Colin said. “The original creator, Kuho, retired. We now have a chief designer who understands the lifestyle of today’s generation. The Kuho woman is intellectual, and she understands the quality of the garment.”

As for Samsung’s future in fashion, “The next chapter is about expansion,” Colin said. “We have a great culture and skillset, and now need to bring this to other countries. This is a going to be a very important journey for our company.”