Since the early 1990s, Kangs boutique has been a carefully guarded secret amongst small communities of well-dressed and astute Singaporean women. Lawyers, doctors, taitais and eager young brides in the know have been trooping to designer Gary Laus modest tailor shop (first in Golden Landmark, Concourse and now in the Crawford Lane) to be fitted it in one-off, exclusive creations. Although best remembered for his precisely tailored and exquisitely crafted cheongsams, Garys range is prolific?from evening gowns, bridal wear, daily work wear to even quirky and glamorous maternity outfits.

Although he started out in the fashion industry at a time when Singapore was fast churning out young designers, Garys entry into the sartorial world was far from typical. Upon leaving school in the mid-1980s, he worked as an apprentice in a hotel F&B. The urge to seek a more stable career prompted him to learn a second craft. This new venture, he decided, would be dressmaking.
I had always excelled in art as a subject in school?, Gary recalls. "And I was also aware of a gap in the apparel market for clothes that really excited me. I decided to learn all I could about dressmaking from design, cutting, to sewing and finishing touch,? added Gary.
Gary came in top in the Evening Gown categroy in the 1988 Singapore Young Designers Award and the rest, as they say, is history.