Acts of Kindness
Grandson helps Tawainese laundromat-owning couple model forgotten clothes in fantastic photos
It was all their grandson's idea, because social distancing was getting them down.
Maxim Sorokopud
08.10.20

For over 60 years, Wan-Ji Chang and Sho-Er Hsu have run a laundromat together. Recently, they became online celebrities thanks to their forgetful customers.

All the way back in 1959, Chang and Hsu got married. Soon after, Hsu ended up working with Chang at his business, Wansho Laundry.

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Source:
Pxhere

For almost every day since, the couple washed people’s clothes.

As the years passed by, Chang and Hsu would wash clothes for all sorts of people.

From actors to high-end businessmen, all sorts of people would drop their clothes off at the couple’s laundromat.

Good Morning America/YouTube
Source:
Good Morning America/YouTube

The couple often talked about what it must be like to be famous. Little did they know that one day, they would find out for themselves.

When coronavirus came to Taiwan, Chang and Hsu were distraught. Naturally, they were at high risk of being adversely affected by the disease. So their customers stopped visiting the laundromat, out of caution for the couple.

Wang and Hsu knew that this drop off in business was a coronavirus safety precaution. But still, they missed seeing the people.

Luckily, the couple’s grandson, Reef Chang, who was social distancing with them, came up with an idea to lift their spirits.

Good Morning America/YouTube
Source:
Good Morning America/YouTube

Soon, people all over the world would fall in love with the grandparents.

Reef started an Instagram page for the grandparents. The theme of the page? The grandparents would model all of the forgotten items that they had amassed over the years.

Naturally, Chang and Hsu had a huge backlog of forgotten clothing. Some of the items dated back decades. They reasoned that no one was going to pick up their clothes after a few years had passed. So they decided to mix and match the most stylish clothes that formed the store’s “forgotten pile.”

And no one can deny that Chang and Hsu look super chic.

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秀娥開心❤️(萬吉到底說了什麼?) 萬吉看秀娥穿這樣好像講起了什麼事,結果秀娥就突然笑了~這件看起來很少女的衣服不知道什麼原因也被主人遺忘,但阿嬤再度無違和的撐起…另外要說一下萬吉的眼鏡,一個83歲的老人家,以前都戴金框眼鏡,結果某一天他出門回來,自己去配了一副黑框… 👴🏼萬吉(身長160) 外搭:7年以上未取格紋壓扣襯衫 上衣:5年以上未取條紋亨利領襯衫 褲子:阿公私服工作短褲(但堅持工作褲也要熨燙過) 👵🏼秀娥(身長155) 洋裝:10年以上未取吊帶格紋洋裝 內搭:10年以上未取小碎花襯衫 💡溫馨提醒|洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder|Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents #mixandmatch #clothes #craftsman #しょくにん #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #budapest #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap @uniqlo_ootd #converse @converse #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #femmefuture #culturecartel @nataliadornellas #classyvision #vintage #古着

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Much of the clothing that they model dates back 30, 40, 50 or even 60 years. But no matter what they decide to wear, they make it work.

Pretty soon, people all over the globe became receptive to the groovy grandparents. Their Instagram page became flooded with followers.

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你看看,秀娥的臉真的很會擺! 整理找到2件被遺忘的Adidas,所以今天嘗試兩個人年輕時也沒穿過的運動型態!也是店裡比較意外居然會被遺忘的年輕款式(?)結果萬吉秀娥還是輕鬆駕馭😅從櫃檯把阿公發呆的椅子拉出來讓他們坐著,結果秀娥自己擺了這樣的pose?! 👴🏼萬吉 上衣:主人已領取 褲子:萬吉私服—洗衣服時穿的工作褲 👵🏼秀娥 上衣:5年以上未取女白T 外套:2年以上未取Adidas 棒球外套 褲子:阿嬤私服,年代自己都忘了 💡溫馨提醒|洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder|Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents #mixandmatch #clothes #craftsman #しょくにん #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #budapest #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap @uniqlo_ootd #converse @converse #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #ynet #femmefuture #culturecartel @nataliadornellas #classyvision #adidas

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In just over a month, Chang and Hsu’s Instagram following has ballooned from zero up to 634,000+.

Like many seniors, it’s taking Chang and Hsu a while to understand just what social media is.

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如果今天還是秀娥氣勢贏,那我就會告訴萬吉,說應觀眾要求,必須出一篇秀娥特輯! 前幾天VOGUE的文章說到:「有一種愛叫萬吉和秀娥的愛❤️」,這是什麼愛?其實孫子也不知道,但當有人把整套好看的西裝送洗未取,拿來給兩人穿上,就算這次沒有相視而笑,就算衣服來自不同主人,也還是會覺得是情侶裝,這應該就是愛吧? 👴🏼萬吉(身長160) 成套西裝:至少20年以上未取成套雙排扣白西裝 內搭:8年以上未取布達佩斯紀念T(已找到新主人) 腰帶:萬吉的領帶 👵🏼秀娥(身長155) 成套西裝:至少15年以上未取全套卡其西裝 內搭:3年未取白t恤 💡溫馨提醒|洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder|Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #有一種愛叫萬吉和秀娥的愛 #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents – – – #mixandmatch #clothes #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #femmefuture @nataliadornellas @irdailystyle @styleshare_kr #classyvision #vintage #古着 #コーディネート #love

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They’ve seen the numbers, and Reef shows them the positive comments. And this has really boosted their emotions during a difficult time.

“And of course, they’ve become happier reading their fans’ comments every day, which makes me happier as well.” – Reef Chang.

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60多年如一日的攜手,每天早上8點,萬吉秀娥依然準時開店! 好像有個結論,萬吉只要遮起⋯禿⋯頭,就變年輕⋯然後,秀娥目前沒有hold不住的穿搭啊! 👴🏼萬吉(身長160) 外搭:5年以上未取短袖襯衫 上衣:10年以上未取花襯衫 褲子:阿公私服洗衣工作短褲 👵🏼秀娥(身長155) 上衣:10年以上未取花襯衫 裙子:30年以上秀娥私服 💡溫馨提醒|洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder|Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents #mixandmatch #clothes #craftsman #しょくにん #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #budapest #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap #converse @converse #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #femmefuture #culturecartel @nataliadornellas #classyvision #vintage #古着

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They are humbled to have found so many fans.

Luckily, the grandparents and Reef have big plans for the Instagram page.

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👵🏼秀娥今天穿了一件在61年前訂製的衣服,而你最久的衣服穿了幾年? 今天遺忘的衣物其實只有萬吉身上那一件,但為什麼有這張?是因為秀娥在衣櫃翻出了她的「嫁妝」,秀娥身上那件小外套,是她當年嫁給萬吉時,她爸媽(我的曾外祖父母)幫她準備的嫁妝,距今已經超過了61年。 你可曾想過一件衣服過了61年,還是那麼實穿?其實很想跟大家分享一件事,就是從小成長過程中,阿公阿嬤一直要求我珍惜衣服,隨時拿回家洗、燙都沒關係,因為如果一件衣服好好洗滌、存放,是可以穿很久的,就像今天阿嬤身上這件,縱使61年了還是可以透過搭配重新找到價值。 👵🏼Sho-Er wore a customized clothes in 1959, how many years do you keep your clothes? The not-picked-up clothes today is actually only Wan-ji’s, but why do we still take this photo? It is because that Sho-Er found her dowry, the jacket on her, which Sho-Er’s parents gave her 61 years ago, in year 1959. Have you ever thought that clothes can still be classic after 61 years? When I was young, which I still am, my grandparents always ask me to treasure the clothes, which can be worn for a life time if you wash and preserve them well. Like Sho-Er’s jacket, after 61 years, it can still be worn and found its new value. 🔔溫馨提醒|洗衣服請記得拿❤️ 🔔Please remember to pick up you clothes ❤️ #萬秀洗衣店 #萬秀的洗衣店 #wantshowasyoung #grandparents – – _ #mixandmatch #clothes #ootd #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #grandma #grandpa #femmefuture #classyvision #vintage #古着 #コーディネート #love #laundry #outfit #dowry

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They realized that they could be a force for change in the world. They are now planning to use their posts to spread the word about sustainable fashion.

“It’s not necessary to always buy new clothes. You can just mix and match the old and the new.” – Reef Chang.

It may have taken 80+ years and a pandemic, but Chang and Hsu have finally gained the recognition that they deserve.

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還記得上週截止的10K小禮物抽獎嗎?30個被抽到的名單在這裡! 沒想到那麼多人,但只有少少30個,或許這只是個小小的開始,希望透過一個小布章,提醒大家「只要在舊衣服上稍微動點巧思,就可以變成一件有意思的新物件!」 萬吉的上衣,是一件15年前我高中時,買給他慶祝父親節的polo衫;而秀娥的背心,則是來自被客人遺忘超過20年的背心。兩件衣服各自加上一個標籤,就可以當成新制服了! Do you remember the 10K gift draw that closed last week? The list is here! Unexpectedly, there are so many people, but there are only 30 at last. Perhaps this is just a small beginning. Through a small patch, I hope to remind everyone that "as long as you use a little bit of ingenuity on your old clothes, it can become an interesting new one!" Wan-Ji's top is a polo shirt that I bought to celebrate Father's Day when I was in high school 15 years ago; Sho-er’s vest is from a vest that has been forgotten by customers for more than 20 years. Add a label to both clothes and they can be used as new uniforms! @brportii @__822128312 @crystalhuang0122 @sachamaartens @cindyseesit @maria_altomare16 @gwengjg @mia_afw @anticipatedlife @runaway_heather @zoe.puter @thatcrazybarbie @hitsilvia @cloudycloudysummer @julieyeh24 @_____yi1209 @_wanginging @mi050802 @xiaoxi_guo @mmotoookaaa @rainbowhill1912 @llin_yun_chen @mackerel_1412 @ringotignir @chuzzzone @eequoq @lhw.890316 @hyhdefee @anaf.d @archiebell__ 請私訊與我聯繫,會需要跟您確認郵寄資訊,希望能快點寄到你的手上,一起成為「萬秀洗衣店」的世界特派員工! Please contact me by private message, I will need to confirm the mailing information with you, I hope it can be sent to you as soon as possible, and become a special staff member of "Wan-sho Laundry"! 🔔溫馨提醒|洗衣服請記得拿❤️ 🔔Please remember to pick up you clothes ❤️ #萬秀洗衣店 #萬秀的洗衣店 #wantshowasyoung #grandparents – – _ #mixandmatch #clothes #ootd #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #grandma #grandpa #femmefuture #classyvision #vintage #古着 #コーディネート #love #laundry #outfits

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It’s clear from the photos that they’re a fantastic and fun couple. Everyone they know must be so lucky to have them in their lives (even if that’s currently from a safe distance.)

When coronavirus finally recedes, the grandparents are sure to have an uptick in business. People will probably end up deliberately leaving clothing behind in the hopes that the garments will appear on the couple’s Instagram page.

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