As i'm living just around the corner from Tony's shop and have some of the same stockists, i finally got around to popping into his family's shop in Haggerston, East London. Tony is a man full of ideas, creativity and a huge amount of local love. I was able to interview him for this article. Supporting other local business' is so important to me and i hope to do way more of these showcases in the future. Small businesses really need to stick together.
What is your full name?
Tony Chung
Tony Chung
Company:
The Steam Room and Tony Cleans
The Steam Room and Tony Cleans
Describe your business and your big idea:
I run The Steam Room, an independent dry cleaners and little lifestyle store on Kingsland Road. I’ve spent over 20 years looking after people’s clothes and now I’m starting Tony Cleans, with our first Denim Wash. We also make T-shirts and prints inspired by East London, food, workwear and my Chinese background. It’s really just all the things I love coming together.
I run The Steam Room, an independent dry cleaners and little lifestyle store on Kingsland Road. I’ve spent over 20 years looking after people’s clothes and now I’m starting Tony Cleans, with our first Denim Wash. We also make T-shirts and prints inspired by East London, food, workwear and my Chinese background. It’s really just all the things I love coming together.
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What is your background? How does it link to what you are doing now?
I’m British born Chinese and studied product design. My mum and dad took over the shop in 1976 and ran it as a Chinese takeaway. I turned it into The Steam Room in 2004, so this year our family has been in the same little building for 50 years.
I’m British born Chinese and studied product design. My mum and dad took over the shop in 1976 and ran it as a Chinese takeaway. I turned it into The Steam Room in 2004, so this year our family has been in the same little building for 50 years.
What was your breakthrough moment?
Probably realising that faster wasn’t always better. Instead of buying more automated machinery, I removed our steam cabinet and put in an old Victorian washing trough. It slowed us down, but it meant giving every garment a bit more time and care, which felt much more like me.
Probably realising that faster wasn’t always better. Instead of buying more automated machinery, I removed our steam cabinet and put in an old Victorian washing trough. It slowed us down, but it meant giving every garment a bit more time and care, which felt much more like me.
What is one of your proudest business moments?
Probably just still being here! The shop has been part of my family for 50 years and I’ve basically grown up with it. We’re lucky to work with some of the top fashion houses and stylists, but saving someone’s favourite old jacket can mean just as much. Clothes have memories attached to them.
Probably just still being here! The shop has been part of my family for 50 years and I’ve basically grown up with it. We’re lucky to work with some of the top fashion houses and stylists, but saving someone’s favourite old jacket can mean just as much. Clothes have memories attached to them.
What was your plan?
There wasn’t really one. I’ve just followed the things I enjoy and tried to do them well. Dry cleaning came first, then the prints and T-shirts, and now Tony Cleans. Somehow it has all found its place.
There wasn’t really one. I’ve just followed the things I enjoy and tried to do them well. Dry cleaning came first, then the prints and T-shirts, and now Tony Cleans. Somehow it has all found its place.
How and when did you launch?
The Steam Room became a dry cleaners in 2004. Tony Cleans is the newest part. After all these years of looking after clothes, I thought it would be nice to make something people could use to care for their clothes at home too.
The Steam Room became a dry cleaners in 2004. Tony Cleans is the newest part. After all these years of looking after clothes, I thought it would be nice to make something people could use to care for their clothes at home too.
How have you continued to build your brand?
Mostly just by being myself and sharing what I know. Social media lets me talk about clothes, stains, fabrics and denim, and the prints and T-shirts let me be creative again. I never really wanted The Steam Room to feel like just a dry cleaners.
Mostly just by being myself and sharing what I know. Social media lets me talk about clothes, stains, fabrics and denim, and the prints and T-shirts let me be creative again. I never really wanted The Steam Room to feel like just a dry cleaners.
What challenges have you faced?
For the first 15 years it was tough. The business was really quiet and sometimes we struggled to make ends meet. We just kept our heads down, kept working at it, improving and learning along the way.
For the first 15 years it was tough. The business was really quiet and sometimes we struggled to make ends meet. We just kept our heads down, kept working at it, improving and learning along the way.
How do you stay motivated?
I’m still curious. Even after all these years I still enjoy saving a garment, learning something new or making something. I think as long as I still enjoy it, I’ll keep going.
I’m still curious. Even after all these years I still enjoy saving a garment, learning something new or making something. I think as long as I still enjoy it, I’ll keep going.
What have you got your eye on for the future?
I’d love to see where Tony Cleans goes, make a few more useful products and keep doing the T-shirts, prints and collaborations. Nothing too grand. I just want to keep making things I believe in and see where it takes me.
I’d love to see where Tony Cleans goes, make a few more useful products and keep doing the T-shirts, prints and collaborations. Nothing too grand. I just want to keep making things I believe in and see where it takes me.
What are your favourite things to carry around with you?
My phone, because my whole life seems to be on there now! And something to sketch on. I’ve always found it easier to draw an idea than explain it.
My phone, because my whole life seems to be on there now! And something to sketch on. I’ve always found it easier to draw an idea than explain it.
Do you have a motto?
If things don’t work, something needs to change.
If things don’t work, something needs to change.
How can people get in touch with you?
The Steam Room: www.thesteamroom.cleaning
Instagram: @thesteamroomeast
Tony Cleans: www.tonycleans.com
Instagram and TikTok: @tonycleans
The Steam Room: www.thesteamroom.cleaning
Instagram: @thesteamroomeast
Tony Cleans: www.tonycleans.com
Instagram and TikTok: @tonycleans
Supporting Small Businesses
Stories like Tony’s are a reminder of how much character, history and creativity can be found in the small independent businesses around London. Behind every shop, studio or workshop there’s usually a person, a family and a story worth knowing.
We’d love to hear from more small businesses with a story to tell. If you run an independent business, make something interesting, have a unique shop or simply think your story would make a good read, get in touch with us (hello@goodordering.com) — we’d love to hear from you and potentially feature you here on the Goodordering blog.
Small businesses are what make our neighbourhoods interesting, and we’d like to help celebrate them.
