Esquel Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Textile and apparel manufacturing |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Yang Yuan-loong |
| Headquarters | Wan Chai, Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
| Products | Woven shirts, fabrics |
Esquel Group () is a textile and apparel manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong, known as the largest producer of woven shirts worldwide, with an annual output nearing 100 million units. The company provides fabrics to prominent brands such as Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Li Ning, ANTA Sports, Fila, Giordano, and Muji.
The corporate headquarters of Esquel are situated in , Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
History
Established in 1978 by family head Yang Yuan-loong, the company was founded during the period when China began opening its economy, which influenced the inception of the business.
U.S. sanctions
In July 2020, a subsidiary of Esquel based in Hong Kong was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List due to allegations concerning forced labor involving Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Esquel responded by initiating legal proceedings in the U.S. District Court in July 2021 to challenge its inclusion on the list. By August 2021, the End-User Review Committee, representing several U.S. government agencies, granted a conditional removal. However, after failing to finalize terms with the Commerce Department for complete delisting, Esquel renewed its lawsuit efforts. In November 2024, under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, Esquel was prohibited from importing goods into the United States.
Facilities
The majority of Esquel’s production sites are located within China, where increasing labor expenses and more rigorous environmental policies present ongoing industry-wide challenges. Rather than relocating manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor costs—a common strategy among competitors—Esquel is investing in modernizing and establishing new automated factories. This method aims to improve operational efficiency and sustain competitiveness despite rising wage demands.