Empire Tailors: Hong Kong Tailors Suit Up Enchong Dee

For his July Friday Club cover, Filipino actor, athlete, and bona fide heartthrob Enchong Dee knew an off-the-rack suit wouldn’t cut it. He wanted garments that echoed his charisma – pieces designed to move, command attention, and charm in equal measure. His search led him to Empire Tailors, a third-generation Hong Kong atelier founded in 1983 by brothers Andy and Anthony Asaf and today guided by Andy’s son Mark. In an era of next-day fast fashion, Empire upholds the art of hand-drafted patterns, basted fittings, and refined needlework – all visible through their glass-fronted workshop on Nathan Road.

Laying The Foundation

Mark and Enchong kicked off with an in-depth fabric consultation that felt more like exploring a textile archive than a typical fitting. They settled on two distinct looks to showcase the actor’s versatility. The first featured a wide chalk-stripe navy flannel from Vitale Barberis Canonico – substantial enough to hold its shape but soft enough to drape with a velvety fluidity. Mark recommended a classic four-button, double-breasted cut with hand-roped shoulders; that slight lift at the sleeve head would square Enchong’s athletic frame and give the jacket an almost knight-like presence. Inside, Enchong selected a sapphire-blue lining adorned with dragons – a nod to his Chinese zodiac sign.

For the second outfit, they needed something that could brave Manila’s tropical heat without dissolving into creases. Mark introduced a new collection from Ermenegildo Zegna and chose a linen-silk-wool composition in a soft beige window-check. Enchong paired it with Zegna’s ‘Cashco’ trousers – an ivory cashmere-cotton weave that stays cool to the touch while feeling sumptuously soft. Worn open-collar and untied, the ensemble perfectly embodies today’s dress-down trend – a blazer that retains its sophistication even when paired with a plain tee or lightweight knit.

Why In-Person Fittings Still Reign

Empire’s head cutter, Awai, struck the initial patterns, loosely assembled them, and – true to the shop’s full-service ethos – hand-delivered the unfinished garments to a suite at the Sheraton Manila Bay for Enchong’s first fitting. There, Mark examined shoulder pitch, back balance, and the subtle ripples that signal fine adjustments. Enchong asked for his Cashco trousers to be cropped slightly shorter and tapered for a cleaner silhouette, while the flannel trousers gained just enough length to graze his shoes with purpose. ‘Measurements provide the math of tailoring,’ Mark says, ‘but the drape tells the story,’ and only an in-person fitting can reveal how cloth moves with every posture and stride.

‘Feel Like A Million’

Back in Hong Kong, Empire’s workroom hummed as tailors pick-stitched lapels, hand-sewed roped shoulders stitch by stitch, and set the sleeves with millimetre precision. Mark selected each final detail – a pair of black box-calf and brown karagrain Carmina loafers and a knitted Viola Milano tie – so both looks could go straight from shoot to evening engagements. A month after the first swatch, Enchong slipped on the chalk-stripe jacket in Empire’s mirror-bright showroom, rolled his shoulders, and fastened the last horn button.

‘How do you feel?’ Mark asked.

‘Like a million dollars,’ Enchong replied – the sapphire dragon tucked close to his heart.

A Suit That Ages Like Fine Wine

Bespoke leaves nothing to chance: swatch, measure, cut, assemble the basted cloth – and finally deliver a suit that leaves the shop looking impeccable yet destined to keep improving with every wear. In partnering with these Hong Kong tailors, Enchong learned that true luxury isn’t rushed; it’s nurtured stitch by stitch by hands that can elevate style from everyday to extraordinary. And when a suit is crafted this thoughtfully, it doesn’t just dress its wearer – it ensures he owns every entrance.

Empire Tailors, 3/F, Fontaine Building, 18 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 2723 2673, empiretailors.com

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This post is in partnership with Empire Tailors.

Catherine Pun

Editorial Director | + posts

A Hong Kong native with Filipino-Chinese roots, Catherine infuses every part of her life with zest, whether she’s belting out karaoke tunes or exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. Her downtime often includes unwinding with Netflix and indulging in a 10-step skincare routine. As the Editorial Director of Friday Club., Catherine brings her wealth of experience from major publishing houses, where she refined her craft and even authored a book. Her sharp editorial insight makes her a dynamic force, always on the lookout for the next compelling narrative.