I grew up in a gentleman’s culture, and I find men these days much less well-presented than they were a few decades ago. The suit and tie - once worn even by bus drivers in the UK, for example, have given way to the so-called “smart casual”, and the image of a man holding the door for others has become increasingly rare.

I wanted to change that, and that’s how the blog We Shape Gentlemen was conceived.

I have always felt that a man with superior physical appeal alone doesn’t make him a gentleman. A true gentleman is a man with an equally appealing mind that is intelligent, kind, of high moral standards and good common sense. A guy might drive the most expensive car in the world but if he behaves on the road with zero courtesy, he doesn’t qualify as a gentleman.

That’s why through the Blog I wanted to share all things gentleman not limited to dressing up and grooming - the "superficial" side of men, but etiquette and personal improvement as well. Then there’s this idea of “a Shop within the Blog” that would provide an easy way to buy products specific to the gentleman lifestyle. And the way I wanted to do it was through our own brand and products.

This is how CHESS was born. I chose the name because life is a game and chess is a gentleman’s game. It reflects my belief that “we should live and win the game of life like a gentleman”.

At CHESS we focus only on products that are true to the gentleman lifestyle. Unlike many big brands, our products are largely handmade in small batches, mostly by small but established workshops in both Europe and Asia. This is the only way to create products with that unique personal touch we so value these days.

With We Shape Gentlemen and CHESS, I hope to bring value to the aspired gentleman, to be the best version of himself.

Philip Cheung

Founder