What Aimer does

Aimer is one of China's largest domestic lingerie and functional apparel brands, founded in 1993 by former university lecturer Zhang Rongming in Suzhou and now headquartered in Beijing. The company designs, manufactures, and sells bras, underwear, pajamas, and intimate apparel primarily to Chinese women consumers through a direct-to-consumer motion combining an owned physical retail network across China with an official e-commerce storefront (aimer.com.cn). Its core technical differentiator is a proprietary elastic memory-alloy underwire invented by the founder, which combined comfort with structural support and addressed a notable gap in the Chinese lingerie market.

Aimer's business model is centered on hardware product sales — bras, underwear, sleepwear, and related apparel — supplemented by circular fashion services including brand-initiated repair, secondhand resale programs, and sustainable material innovation (notably seaweed fibre). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the brand occupies a mid-to-premium position relative to domestic peers. The company has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2021, employs 5,001-10,000 people, and operates solely within the Chinese domestic market with no documented international footprint. Founder Zhang Rongming remains chairman, with Jian Zhang serving as general manager.

Name

Aimer

Legal name

Aimer

Website

https://aimer.com.cn

Company type

Public

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Aimer is a Chinese lingerie and functional apparel brand founded in 1993, manufacturing and selling bras, underwear, and sleepwear to Chinese women consumers through owned retail and DTC e-commerce. Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2021.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intimate Apparel Manufacturing

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621)

akta.pro primary industry

Intimates, Lingerie, Swimwear & Sleepwear Brands (CRAAAAAF)

Keywords

• Intimate apparel manufacturing
• Women's lingerie products
• Sustainable fashion brand
• Undergarment retail
• Circular fashion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Lingerie and Apparel Product Sales: Aimer generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of lingerie and related apparel products, including bras, underwear, pajamas, and intimate wear. The company also offers sustainable fashion extensions including repair services and resale programs, adding secondary revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Aimer manufactures and sells intimate apparel and functional clothing — including bras, underwear, pajamas, and sleepwear — through its own retail network and online channels in China. Its core differentiator is the proprietary elastic memory-alloy underwire developed by founder Zhang Rongming, combined with sustainable materials such as seaweed fibre and circular fashion programs (repair services and resale).

Product overview

Aimer is a Chinese lingerie brand founded in 1993 by former university lecturer Zhang Rongming. The company operates as a single-product fashion brand with circular economy initiatives. Its core offering is lingerie featuring proprietary elastic memory-alloy underwire technology, supplemented by repair services and resale programs as part of its sustainability strategy. The company also incorporates innovative sustainable materials like seaweed fibre into its product line. Aimer was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aimer Lingerie (Bras, Underwear, Sleepwear) Core intimate apparel line including bras, underwear, pajamas, and sleepwear, featuring the brand's proprietary elastic memory-alloy underwire technology. Targeted at Chinese women consumers seeking comfortable, supportive, and fashion-forward intimate apparel at a mid-to-premium price position.

Quantifiable outcome

• US$770 million wealth accumulated by founder Zhang Rongming
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• ThirdLove: US-based DTC intimates brand focused on fit technology and half-size offerings; comparable to Aimer through emphasis on technical underwire and bra fit innovation, though primarily serves North American consumers today.
• Savage X Fenty: Digital-first direct-to-consumer intimates brand with growing global footprint; comparable to Aimer in target demographic and DTC-led business model, but with materially stronger digital capabilities and brand momentum.

Broad incumbents

• Uniqlo (Fast Retailing): Global apparel retailer explicitly cited alongside Aimer in sustainable fashion coverage; competes for the same Chinese women's apparel wallet, particularly in basic underwear and casual intimates categories.
• Hanesbrands: US-listed global apparel manufacturer with intimates and innerwear brands including Champion and Bonds; relevant peer given overlap in intimate apparel and global manufacturing scale that exceeds Aimer's.
• Victoria's Secret: Global intimates and beauty giant with growing Asia-Pacific presence; competes with Aimer in the women's lingerie category but operates at significantly larger scale and global brand reach.
• Calvin Klein (PVH Corp.): Global apparel brand with a significant intimates and underwear business; competes with Aimer in the mid-premium Chinese consumer segment through both branded retail and wholesale channels.

Direct peers

• Triumph International: European-headquartered global lingerie brand with significant Asia-Pacific operations; competes with Aimer in the mid-to-premium intimates segment with comparable bra fit technology and broader intimates assortment.
• Cosmo Lady: Hong Kong-listed Chinese lingerie and intimate apparel brand operating mass-market and mid-tier positioning; directly competes with Aimer in the Chinese women's intimates category through similar retail and distribution channels.
• Wacoal Holdings: Japanese-founded global lingerie and intimate apparel company with strong Asian market presence; directly comparable to Aimer in product category, target demographic, and emphasis on fit technology.
• Embry Form: Established Chinese lingerie brand with comparable mid-market positioning and broad intimates portfolio; competes head-to-head with Aimer for Chinese women consumers across physical and digital retail.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aimer