True collars: Ascot Chang reflects on 60 years in the business
As it celebrates its 60th anniversary, bespoke tailor Ascot Chang aims to raise its profile on its home patch, writes Abid Rahman
Hong Kong bespoke tailor Ascot Chang has an impressive clientele. The brand has been worn by US presidents such as George Bush senior and Richard Nixon, Hollywood stars, musicians and is regularly featured on men's style blogs. With such an impressive following one would think Ascot Chang would be a household name in the city. But the reality is different.
"We're proud that Ascot Chang is a Hong Kong brand, but we've established ourselves internationally so many Hong Kong people are not familiar with the brand," says Tony Chang, group managing director and son of the company's founder, Ascot Chang. "We are quite famous as a niche brand, especially in menswear and are well known in New York, where we've been since 1986," says Chang.
With its 60th anniversary approaching the venerable menswear brand that started on Kimberly Street in Tsim Sha Tsui is looking to raise its profile in the city.
"In 60 years we've gone through a lot so we need to show our history. The time is right to reach out to the home audience," says Chang.
From September 5-9, Ascot Chang will hold a 60th anniversary exhibition in the IFC Atrium in Central. The exhibition will detail the company's journey from its first store to the present day in what Chang feels is a compelling story that closely follows the ups and downs and growth of Hong Kong from a city to an international financial centre.
My father's first principle was the customer always comes first