ABOUT US
SELF-PORTRAIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013 BY HAN CHONG IN LONDON, WITH A CREATIVE VISION TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL DESIGN ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WOMEN.
A graduate of Central Saint Martins, the Malaysian-born designer unites a refined aesthetic with a deft understanding of structure and materials that has propelled the brand’s meteoric rise and upended the contemporary fashion market.
Designed in London, made for the world - Self-Portrait believes in celebrating and empowering the women in the clothes. Femininity ensured by elegant functionality, reflecting a sincere engagement and appreciation for a contemporary way of life.
HAN CHONG
Born in Penang, Malaysia, Han came to London in 2003 to study at Central Saint Martins, graduating with a degree in Womenswear Design. Enamoured by the city’s vivacity and cultural vibrancy, he quickly made it his adopted home. Initially pursuing a career in the visual arts, Han exhibited works at the 53rd Venice Biennale but was motivated to launch Self-Portrait with the realisation that he wanted to create work that touched more people. The name Self-Portrait was born, to be a reflection of the women in the designs.
"FASHION IS NOT ABOUT ONESELF, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO PHYSICALLY WEAR IT, IT'S ABOUT RESPECTING THEM AND THEIR COMFORT."
Han Chong, Founder and Creative Director, Self-Portrait
WHERE TO FIND US
In 2018, Self-Portrait's first flagship store opened on Albemarle Street in London. Working with Casper Mueller Kneer Architects, Han Chong ensured the architectural design of the store manifests Self-Portrait's insistence that quality experience and modern luxury should be within reach for all.
Further stand-alone stores with the same concept subsequently opened in Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Taipei, establishing the brand's global reach.
In addition to its own e-commerce website, Self-Portrait is also sold in over 350 of the world's top retailers including Selfridges, Net-A-Porter, Matchesfashion.com, Harrods, Mytheresa, Harvey Nichols, Galeries Lafayette and Lane Crawford.
GIVING BACK
Han is personally invested and committed to supporting the next generation of creative talent. A five-year scholarship program was announced with Central Saint Martins in 2018 to offer financial backing for five students to complete their MA degree, and to offer mentorship on navigating the realities of operating a fashion business.
In keeping with his own experiences, first as a student and now as founder of his own company, Han hopes to offer guidance on creating a brand which successfully balances creativity and commerce.
With the devastating impact caused by the events of 2020 on the creative industry, Self-Portrait also launched an initiative to offer financial support to young talents through its AW20 campaign.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
At Self-Portrait, we are making a conscious effort to improve our contributions to the circular economy and are committed to reducing our impact on the environment by utilising more responsibly sourced fibres in our collections. Please see here for actions we are taking regarding our sustainability initiatives and our ethics.
Self-Portrait hopes to provide women with beautiful designs that stand the test of time. We strongly believe that cherishing each purchase is also key in providing a more sustainable future for our industry.
