All in the Family with Mozartex
For the family behind Mozartex, fabric quality comes first.
Mozartex founder Mozart Tseng was an early developer of dyeing and finishing techniques for TENCEL™ branded fibers dating back to 1992 in Taiwan. Making a commitment to the fiber, Mozart decided to create a family business dedicated to TENCEL™ Lyocell production, leading to the opening of Mozartex in China in 1999.
Mozart’s son Mai took a few detours before entering the family business, but since starting at Mozartex in 2013, he has made his mark. Mai worked with Lenzing to develop TENCEL™ Luxe, a filament lyocell, which has silk-like properties. As sales manager, Mai works with his father to work with customers and drive sustainability in the apparel market.
“Having Mai in the business has been a highlight for me,” Mozart told Carved in Blue. “He has grown over the past years to learn more and more about all parts of the business.
“After building my textile company and customer base for decades, I am proud to have my son lead for the future,” he added. “I see how the next generation views the world differently looking for a purpose and more sustainability.”
Mai spoke to Carved in Blue about his experience in the textile family, his journey into the family trade and how COVID could impact sustainability.
Carved in Blue: What was your first impression of the textile business when you were younger?
Mai: Our family always went shopping for clothes together when I was a child, and my dad will always stop me from buying a good looking, but lousy quality jeans. He will explain to me tons about the material and why I shouldn’t waste my money on bad quality fabrics, rather than appreciating the style. So it’s actually hard for me to find clothes even now I am grown up, because I had to pay much attention on the quality.
Carved in Blue: Did you always want to go into the textile business?
Mai: I followed my mom’s footstep to study pharmacy and enjoy art during my college time in Taiwan when my dad was away in China. I had even worked in the hospital for several years, until I finally set my life goal on textile. But I am glad that I had been in a different industry, so I can bring scientific management into our factory. And it’s really a lot more fun to do textile than sitting behind the desk as a pharmacist!
Carved in Blue: What is the best advice you’ve gotten from your father?
Mai: I think the best advice will be “Be Focused”: be focused on what we are doing and focused on what we are good at, and always pursued for the best. To be so, sometimes we even have to give up many opportunities. But in return, we had built our reputation in the industry for being a professional TENCEL™ Lyocell mill over these years.
Carved in Blue: What do you think lies ahead for the textile industry in the future?
Mai: Although sustainability is definitely always a long-term goal, due to the COVID-19 challenge of this year, retailers are struggling to find a balance between sustainability and cost. On the other hand, we see many thoughtful young designers set up their eco-fashion brand through social media with more and more followers!
Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?
Mai: We are hoping that Carved in Blue can be a platform to connect not just denim, but can collect all sustainable textile chain, mills, retailers, designers, consumers together so we can share each other’s stories and provide choices of sustainable textile all on this platform.