Ascot Chang
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Industry | Retailer |
---|---|
Founded | 1953 |
Founder | Ascot Chang |
Products | Clothing, Fashion |
Website | www |
Ascot Chang is a brand of bespoke shirts and suits.[1] Ascot Chang opened his first store on Kimberly Road in Hong Kong in 1953.[2] It now has 15 locations across China, Hong Kong, the United States, and the Philippines.[3] High-profile customers include former president George W. Bush, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Andy Warhol.[4]
History
Ascot Chang left his hometown, Fenghua, at age fourteen to apprentice under a master shirtmaker in Shanghai. In 1949, he leaves for Hong Kong where he starts taking orders for custom made shirts. Knocking on door after door, he visits the offices of Shanghainese businessmen who are not able to find high quality shirts in Hong Kong.
By 1953, Ascot Chang opens his first 600 sq. ft store at 34 Kimberley Road. He opens his first branch at the Peninsula Hotel in 1963, which is still open to this day.[2]
In 1967, with sales negatively impacted by the Hong Kong 1967 leftist riots, Ascot Chang goes on his first trunk show. Over three months, he visited twenty cities in the United States, including San Francisco, Boston, and New York City.
When Ascot Chang suffered a heart attack in the 1970s, his son, Tony Chang, and his brother, Johnny Chang, started leading the company. Under the second generation of Changs, Ascot Chang spread worldwide, with their first international store opening in New York in 1986.[4]
Currently, Ascot Chang has 15 locations across China, Hong Kong, the United States, and the Philippines.
Style
The Ascot Chang house cut is a continental style that is characterized by medium shoulder padding, strong yet lightweight canvas structure, and a very slight roped shoulder. The styling leans towards a slim fit that balances aesthetics and comfort for a professional silhouette.
References
- ^ Kristiano Ang, 'A Tailor-Made Career', in The Wall Street Journal, June 10, 2011 [1]
- ^ a b "Heritage". Ascot Chang. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "Store Locator". Ascot Chang. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ a b "Famous HK Tailors (Part Four): the Shanghainese Tailors – Loa Hai Shing, H. Baromon, Ying Tai, Jimmy Chen, W.W. Chan, Ascot Chang and William Yu". The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group. Retrieved August 17, 2018.