Forever 21

Do Won Chang is an American businessman of Korean descent. Together with his partner Jin Sook Chang, he established the popular clothing retailer brand Forever 21.

Early Life

Do Won Chang was born in Seoul, South Korea. He developed a strong work ethic early from an early age. He never went to college. Growing up, he worked at coffee shops before launching his independent coffee delivery business. Don Chang and his wife Jin Sook immigrated to the United States in 1981.

They worked almost 19 hours every day to sustain themselves after arriving in Los Angeles. Chang had to work multiple jobs at once. He held jobs as a janitor, a gas station attendant, and a barista in coffee shops. However, after settling in the United States for some time, he realized that a career in fashion might be his passport to success. He observed that all the rich people around worked in the fashion industry.

Success Story

The pair was able to save $11,000 after working three years in the country. They started a 900-square-foot clothing boutique. Do Wan Chang opened his first clothing store in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1984 utilizing the earnings from previous jobs.

He promoted it to his fellow Korean Americans under the name Fashion 21. Sales increased tremendously from $35,000 to $700,000 in just the first year of the launch. But as the company prospered, he desired to increase the diversity of his customers. In order to draw in more people, Chang renamed his store Forever 21.

By 2013, there were over 480 outlets and $3.7 billion in sales. With $4.4 billion in worldwide sales in 2015, Forever 21’s sales hit an all-time high. In 2016, the business generated $4.4 billion in revenue and employed 43,000 people over 790 outlets throughout 48 nations, including his home South Korea.

Do Won Chang and his spouse successfully built Forever 21 utilizing their own resources. Many business owners around the world are inspired by their success. Unfortunately, in 2019 the company sought bankruptcy protection as a result of the rise in internet merchants. Forever 21 remains one of the most well-known brands in the world, despite this.

Do Won claimed that he values his family more than any other standard of achievement. Linda and Esther, his two daughters, are also working for the company. Riley Rose, a line of cosmetics and accessories sold in Forever 21 stores, was founded by Esther and Linda Chang.

Forever 21 has been sued numerous times in recent years for allegedly violating the copyright of designers like Diane Von Furstenberg and Gwen Stefani. The family has never, however, been held accountable for copyright violation. In fact, jewelry designer Alexis Bittar was ecstatic when they began selling inexpensive replicas of his jewelry because he saw it as praise that someone considered his ideas were significant enough to replicate.

Chang and his spouse immigrated to the United States with only a high school degree,  In order to provide for his family, he worked three jobs. The pair put forth a lot of effort early on and never gave up. Their success story suggests that anything is possible if one has faith in themselves.