Sew far, sew good
As traditional Hong Kong tailors find ways to reach younger audiences, avant-garde fashion designers are reinterpreting beloved staples. Rebecca Lo turns the spotlight on the current state of the city's rag trade.
Boom town
Hong Kong's manufacturing industry flourished after World War II. The lure of better prospects drew tailors from Shanghai, including Ascot Chang, to the city. They were soon joined by Indian families such as the Melwanis and Harilelas. In his biography, Hari Harilela: Made in Hong Kong, the patriarch recounts his early days as a teenager selling suits in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Also a third-generation member in his family's company, Justin Chang studied fashion merchandising at Cornell University. Following summer jobs on the sales floor at Ascot Chang's Manhattan store, he joined his father back in Hong Kong full time in 2008.
While Tony Chang remains the company's majority shareholder, his son is mindfully implementing ways to bring Ascot Chang into the 21st century - not an easy feat for a tailor that still relies on paper patterns for its legions of loyal customers. Recent changes include transitioning from handwritten orders to a digital system (which took two years to implement), launching a corporate website, and participating in events such as the recent exhibition at The Mills.
