Tell us about your business, its history, and how you build customer loyalty.
The House of Wu started in Social Occasion with Tiffany Designs to fill a void in the Ball Gown sector of the prom industry. Tiffany then expanded to be a major force in the Prom industry with its addition of slim and mermaid styles. The House of Wu then added Studio 17 to fill a different category; more updated, simpler elegant and sexy prom dresses. Panoply was acquired to cover the sexy siren and red-carpet runway evening gown looks. Rodney Alfred was brought on board to cater to the state and national pageant customers. Eventually, LaBelle social occasion was introduced for the more mature, sophisticated women in our market. This line caters mainly to the Mother of the Bride and women looking for that special gown for whatever the social occasion may be. For House of Wu, style, delivery, price, and service are the key factors in building customer loyalty.

Who is your main designer or designers?
Jay Reynolds, Rodney Alfred, Jennifer Ouellette, and Liz Luo.

What divisions (e.g., Prom, Pageant, Social Occasion, Bridal, etc.) do you design for and market?
We carry all divisions and we are an award-winning leader in the prom and social occasion marketplace. We also manufacture Bridal, Mother of the Wedding, Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, Quinceanera and Pageant collections.

Please identify three characteristics you are known for.
Three main characteristics would have to be the quality and construction of gowns, very competitive pricing, and owner Wen Wu’s hands-on approach and willingness to listen to his customers’ advice and suggestions. Tiffany Designs is known for its quality construction, design, and delivery of ball gowns and mermaid styles. Panoply is known for its sexy, body-conscious, and cutout, beaded-jersey designs. Rodney Alfred’s designs are known for their use of rich fabrics and exquisite beading paterns.

How do you keep your design ideas current?
Our design team comes together several times a year to study trends in social change, in the ready-to-wear world, and in European designs, and to shop the fabric markets all over the world. Inspiration is also drawn from extensive traveling, visits to vintage clothing shops, and even reviews of books, classic movies, and magazines. Most importantly, many of our ideas come directly from listening to our customers’ suggestions.

As a designer, where do you receive the most satisfaction?
All of our designers would agree that the best feeling is to see a style successfully worn by the final customer. Whether it be from seeing prom pictures or contestants on the pageant stage, to know that we made that customer look and feel the best she could is the most satisfying feeling of all.

What fashion looks and fabric-usage trends do you predict will emerge in the coming seasons?
Definitely more sparkle and shine; prints (animal, retro/polka dots); vibrant colored charmeuse fabrics; and chunky beading and embellishments.

What design trends do you predict will fade from the fashion scene?
Designing and retailing our lines in the USA creates a distinct advantage: the ability for one particular trend not to ever really fade away; it just transitions from one area of the nation to another and, for that matter, once it fades from the USA it most likely will show up again very soon on the European runway... making it new again.

What aspects of the fashion business bring you the greatest satisfaction?
Working with our customers and retailers by providing the best design, quality, delivery, and customer service is the goal of our management team and our design team.  Satisfaction is knowing we have done our best in all areas by creating a beautiful collection for our customers.

House of Wu
established 1992

14975 Technology Court
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Wen Wu
houseofwu.com
800-732-8077