Meet Eugene Chan | CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eugene Chan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eugene, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
One of the missions for Crew Apparel is to create a sustainable uniform from recycled fabrics, leave less co2 emission and make a positive change to how people think of uniform. Crew Apparel is a pioneer in designing and making uniform from technical fabrics. We believe technology will improve our lives and that is not limited to tech giants around the world. People who wear uniform day in and day out, such as chefs, medical workers and construction workers, are the real game-changers. We want to make them feel better at work, and at the same time, using fabrics that are socially responsible. Crew Apparel invests a lot of time and energy in developing fabrics that are made from recycled polyester, cotton or even water bottle. The quick-dry & water-repellent properties of our signature CrewTech fabric also help to save energy when it comes to cleaning. We also work with our factories to lower Co2 emission, use 100% compostable packaging and leave as little waste as possible. The garments industry is one of the biggest sources of pollution, and for us, we want to be a force to change that.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Crew Apparel is a uniform company based in Los Angeles. We are tired of the traditional uniform, which is mostly made from uncomfortable fabric, boxy design and not too functional, they are just used as an identifier. When you put your heart, sweat and soul into your work, you deserve to be in better uniform. What sets Crew Apparel apart is the fabric. We are the first uniform company to produce chef uniform in technical fabrics, which is water-repellent, anti-microbial and stretch. In my opinion, building a brand is challenging enough, and building a uniform brand is even worse. It’s a very niche field but also very competitive. However, you just got to believe in the products you created, build a community of people who share your vision and constantly improving. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is marketing will help you sell a little bit, but a great product is what will make it last. We want people to know that you don’t have to be a computer engineer or scientist to change the world. You can make a difference in any filed. Crew Apparel didn’t create uniform, we didn’t create scrubs, we didn’t create aprons, but we are making them better.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would love to take them to DTLA and Culver City. To me, these two places are the most exciting right now, with all the new restaurants, museums and unique neighbourhood to explore. To eat, you have to visit the arts district. There are many exciting dining experiences to explore, such as Bestia, Red Bird and Rossoblue. The coffee scene is also booming in the area, you can find world-class coffee shops such as Blue Bottle, Verve, and GGET, or small shops like Maru and Dolce. To Shop, you have Dover street market and the revamped American Apparel factory site, now called the ROW. When it comes to Culver City, Bar Nine coffee is a must-visit. We love going to Ms Chi in Downtown Culver city as well, top chef Shirley Chung cooks up some of the best modern Chinese food in LA. We also love Vesaptine for dinner, although it’s really hard to get a reservation right now.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One of the biggest inspiration to me is Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog. It encourages me to keep grinding when things are not going my way. Stand with your belief and never give up, because building a brand is not gonna be an overnight thing.

Website: www.crewapparel.net
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crewapparelusa
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenechan56/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/crewapparelusa