After decades of monotonous work running their own laundry, Chang Wanji and Shu Shu-ye, a married couple from Taiwan in their 80s, decided to inject a fresh and original approach into their daily activities.
The couple, known as Taiwan’s elderly laundry owners, have taken the Instagram world by storm through their creative poses with clothes forgotten or left behind by customers.
Their newfound fame on Facebook and Instagram has garnered the admiration and encouragement of thousands of users from various corners of the globe.
The concept of stylish dressing was introduced by their grandson, Reef Chan, who persuaded his grandparents to combine the accumulated old clothes in fashionable ways, capture photos, and share them on social media.
Reef’s intention was simple: to uplift his grandparents’ spirits, as they often found themselves dozing off during slow periods in the laundry, with each day blending into the next.
The unexpected positive impact on social networks surpassed Reef’s expectations. He stated in an interview, “There are often no customers in the laundry, and they [my grandparents] start to fall asleep at the counter, feeling down. So, I thought, if we already have so many unclaimed clothes, I could remind people to retrieve them and show my grandparents that life can still be interesting even in old age.”
Initially hesitant due to the belief that wearing someone else’s clothes was unacceptable in their line of work, the couple eventually succumbed to their grandson’s persuasion, realizing that age should not hinder good style.
Although they have generously donated many clothes to charitable causes, their entrepreneurial wardrobe remains extensive. On social media, the two elderly fashionistas receive an abundance of positive comments, which their grandson reads aloud to them, further enhancing their joy and sense of accomplishment.