Most men’s tailored Hong Kong suits are glued together, claims women’s workwear brand founder
- The Dutch founder of women’s workwear brand Frey, Frederieke van Doorn, isn’t impressed by Hong Kong men’s suit makers and says her label will do better
- Frey will launch an app for measuring fit for both tailored and off-the-rack garments, and she says ‘From everything I’ve seen, this is the easiest one to use’
Originally from the Netherlands, Frederieke van Doorn has worked in high-end fashion in Europe and Asia for many years. She has now launched a women’s workwear brand, Frey, at a new store in Hong Kong’s Central district, which opened with a ready-to-wear collection in September.
The brand’s “Create Your Own” tailored clothing will be available in December, as well as a specialist app for accurate measurements for both bespoke and off-the-rack clothing.
What inspired your new brand, Frey?
Frederieke van Doorn: “The quality of women’s clothing in Hong Kong is very, very low. I come from high-end men’s tailoring and I’ve now implemented that quality in women’s workwear. The tailors who make suits for men in Hong Kong – that’s not the quality level I’m doing.
“Most suits here are glued together, and if there’s a little bit of rain, then you have to throw it away. I’ve always done half canvas, full canvas [suit linings]. There’s a little bit of fusing, but not a lot.”
