Globalization has wiped out the textile industry in the southern French city of Nimes, which is widely reputed to be the birthplace of denim used largely in making jeans.

The fabric that derives its name from French serge de Nimes is now produced mainly in Asia. The textile mills in Nimes were closed long ago. Like Hong Kong, Nimes has made the transition to a service-led economy.

But not everyone in that textile town has abandoned its ancient tradition. In his small workshop in a residential street, Guillaune Sagot has started making jeans from cotton denim traditionally produced from a loom in Italy. He told the BBC that his dream is to open two factories in Nimes - one making denim and the other jeans.

His jeans, selling at about $250 each, are comparable in price to those of the designer brands. "The jeans are for people who really appreciate good denim, and want jeans that last and that are distinctive," Sagot said. "Each model is hand-made and individually numbered so you know that the jeans you're wearing are unique."

Of course, Sagot's effort will not bring the textile industry back to his native town. High labor costs have made it impossible for a French city to compete with the low-cost manufacturers in Asia and South America. But, he has shown that entrepreneurship is not limited to building clever electronic devices or writing killer programs.

Hong Kong has a tradition in garment production. Before the industry's demise in the 1980s, Hong Kong was recognized as the region's fashion capital. Even now, there's a pool of local fashion designers, some having won international acclaim.

Promoting innovation and creativity is one of the government's major policy initiatives. A lot of resources are known to have been put into nurturing entrepreneurship in the IT industry.

Instead of trying to catch up with South Korea and Singapore, Hong Kong should leverage its strength in fashion design for which it's better known than technological prowess. Without a supporting industry, Hong Kong can never hope to beat South Korea or Shenzhen in building the proverbial mousetrap. But fashion design and craftsmanship is the game in which it can excel.

(HK Edition 11/01/2016 page9)