Style Heroes: Jerry Tong, Co-founder of Prologue Hong Kong

In this ongoing monthly series, join the editors of Lifestyle Asia as we swan dive into the proverbial closets of Hong Kong’s most well-dressed individuals. From statement footwear to indispensable wardrobe basics, we ask a new face every month to share some of their favourite pieces with us, and offer glimmers of insight into what defines their personal style.

Like many Hong Kong gents in their early 30s, Jerry Tong settled on tailored clothing after spending a requisite amount of time in the orbit of streetwear and Ivy style. In sharp contrast to your average ‘suit guy’ however, Jerry’s passion has been honed by years of technical and vocational wisdom. Prior to establishing Prologue — a homegrown purveyor of sartorial men’s clothing — alongside co-founder Chris Tang (see our June edition of Wrist Watch below) he spent three years managing marketing at Ascot Chang — regarded by many as the best shirtmaker in Hong Kong.
In the course of working for Chang, Jerry travelled extensively to Britain and Italy, where he embraced the opportunity to hone his understanding of cut, cloth and proportion under the guidance of the region’s most respected tailors. Today, an abstract of said influences can be keenly felt throughout each Prologue suit — a medley of Neapolitan comfort and Florentine shapeliness that is cast in the best light when worn by its chief architect. In this month’s instalment of Style Heroes, Jerry takes us through some of his favourite Prologue creations (spoiler alert: they’re mostly linen), espouses the virtues of bespoke shoemaking, and shows how his love affair with tailoring has influenced his choices in weekend wear. 

 

Linen tailoring (all by Prologue Hong Kong)

“During the hotter months in Hong Kong — essentially 9 months out of the year — my guilty pleasure is linen tailoring. Here are three shades I particularly enjoy: a double breasted in a colour that we’ve jokingly dubbed ‘mooncake’ (perfect for Mid-Autumn); a disco-appropriate lightweight dark blueish green two-piece; and a lovely casual suit in taupe Irish linen. The latter two represent versatility, separating wonderfully into multiple outfit options that are great for short trips. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the tobacco-esque linen that has graced Pitti and the attendant blogosphere (perhaps far too long for its own good).
The taupe linen meanwhile is a funky shade, incorporating hints of brown, green and grey that allow it to be dressed up and down. Here, I’m wearing it with our Wear Not Tear navy polo — the design features a very versatile spread collar — that we’re proud to have collaborated on with various other industry folk.”

 

Sartoria Yuki Inoue double breasted suit

“The brief for this light blue/grey double breasted suit was ‘old school Hollywood cool’ and the only maker capable of doing that justice was Sartoria Yuki Inoue from Milan. The dramatic shoulder line coupled with the almost-voluptuous body closes without vents, and is paired with full-cut trousers that sit neatly atop the shoes when I’m still, but swish and flow whilst walking.”

 

Prologue Hong Kong olive cotton sportcoat

“I’d be lying if I did not mention my love for odd jackets and trousers. One such example would be this amazing heavy cotton drill (in olive) that possesses a workwear-esque sturdiness. As a bonus, the jacket is fairly generous when it comes to trouser matching, so it’s a heavy part of my rotation and one of my go-to travel essentials.”

 

Prologue Hong Kong sportcoat (in glencheck cloth by Marling & Evans)

“Still my favourite jacket of the moment, I reach for my trusty glencheck sportcoat (in undyed natural wool by Marling & Evans) whenever the mercury dips. I find that it works beautifully with grey, cream, earthy flannels and even denim (as pictured above). The pattern’s slightly exaggerated scale offers a nice counterbalance to typically stark wintry fare and the spongy texture keeps things cosy.”

 

Prologue Hong Kong tweed sportcoat

“Few fabrics are as interesting and divisive as tweed. This is a particularly handsome example — well-loved by menswear geeks and produced by the British mill Abraham Moon. The texture the fuzzy fabric offers helps to create a rich variegation in colour, such as in this “Autumn” tweed that brings to mind a beautiful wooded scene of falling leaves in amber, rust and orange.”

 

Bolero single monkstrap shoes

“I have to be honest: because of my problem feet I’ve never really liked ready-to-wear calfskin shoes. That was until I had a pair of bespoke footwear made — these single monkstraps from Bolero Shoemaker, a Japanese cordwainer out of Nagoya. From the wide-ish toe box and low-profile vamp (that curves aggressively to a high instep), these are shoes that have an inexplicably sock-like fit which I can walk around in for hours.”

 

Vintage Australian army jacket (circa 1960s)

“I think the tailoring hobby fosters a certain appreciation and celebration of old clothing. As such, I’ve developed a growing fondness for vintage timepieces, automobiles and garments — all of which have contributed significantly to modern ideas of design and form. This jacket, for example, is an unissued Aussie army jacket (dated to somewhere between 1960-1970) which I love for the amazing collar and slightly cropped length. The distinctive silhouette makes it that rare breed that’s equally effective when worn with high-rise pleated trousers or jeans and a faded tee.”

All artisans worn by Jerry are available MTO and/or bespoke at Prologue Hong Kong, 3 Shin Hing Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2572 2488