Z hou Jianping is the founder of HLA Group (Heilan Home), one of China's largest and most ubiquitous menswear retailers. He started his journey with humble beginnings, using earnings from a photography studio to enter the textile business in 1988. He revolutionized the Chinese apparel market with a unique franchise model that allowed for rapid expansion with low capital intensity, often referred to as the "Uniqlo of China."

Under his leadership, HLA grew to thousands of stores nationwide, dominating the mass-market men's fashion segment. Zhou stepped down as chairman in 2020, handing over the reins to his son, Zhou Lichen, but remains the group's controlling shareholder. The family's wealth is anchored in the Shanghai-listed retail giant, which has also diversified into other fashion segments and lifestyle brands.