Profile of Do Won Chang, The Man Behind Forever 21

The mastermind behind popular fashion chain Forever 21, Do Won Chang moved to America from Korea with his family in 1981. When they first arrived, Chang was forced to work three jobs simultaneously to support them, as a janitor, a gas station attendant, and in a coffee shop. While working in an LA petrol station he noticed the most expensive cars were driven by fashion retailers. Three years later, blocks away from his one-bedroom apartment, Chang opened his first store, Fashion 21.  It later became Forever 21, pioneered fast fashion and is now a multinational 480 store empire that generates over $3 billion in sales a year. His business grew with sales climbing from $35,000 to $700,000 in the first year.  Chang had 11 stores opened within five years and over 440 across the world today, this shop, a half-hour drive but a million dollars away from the Beverly Hills store, remains the same.

The bottom of every Forever 21 carrier bag reads “John 3:16”, a core Christian message.  Mr. Chang is a born again Christian who is famous for keeping a Bible open on his desk. He views the message as a statement of faith and not as a religious statement because he separates his faith from the brand.  He believes that Forever 21 gives hope and inspiration to people who have almost nothing. It humbles him to know that people can come into a Forever 21 and know that all of this was started by a simple Korean immigrant with a dream.

by Myrlande Julien