David Chu (designer)

David Chu (Chinese: 朱欽騏; pinyin: Zhū Qīnqí; born 1955) is an American fashion designer and the founder of Nautica, a men's outerwear and sportswear company.

Chu's family immigrated from Taiwan to the United States in the 1960s and opened a Chinese restaurant. He grew up in New York and Connecticut and originally planned to become an architect.^[1] While taking a summer drawing class at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a professor suggested that Chu try designing clothes, after seeing his drawing skills.^[2] Chu later graduated from FIT,^[3] and was named its STAR alumnus in 1996.^[4]

Chu returned home to Taipei to start an export business with friends, but they lost all their money in one and a half years. He then returned to the United States, and working under a large company, he designed jackets, taking inspiration from sailors' coats. Barneys and Bloomingdales had good sales for the designs, and in 1983 Nautica was born. The company had sales of $700,000 in its first year and $2.5 million the following year.^[1]

In 2003, Chu sold the company for $1 billion to VF Corporation. He made $100 million from the sale.^[1] Chu promptly purchased an 1846 townhouse in Manhattan's Flatiron district, gut-renovated the historic mansion and turned it into his design studio, showroom and offices.^[5]

In 2006, he created the exclusive David Chu Bespoke line, offering custom suits hand-made in Italy with fabrics from the world's finest mills.^[6] The bespoke line is available in a richly-appointed atelier located in the penthouse of the "Townhouse."

Recently, he started another label, a designer sportswear collection called "LINCS by David Chu," that offers a modern take on tradition and the well-lived life.^[4] Currently, LINCS can be found in select Lord & Taylor, The Bay, Dillard's, Nordstrom, the BAY Oakridge in Vancouver, and other specialty stores.^[7]

From 2006 to 2009, Chu was the executive creative director at luggage and accessories maker Tumi Inc.^[8][9]

In July 2009, Chu formed partnership with golf player Jack Nicklaus to develop the Nicklaus brands worldwide.^[10]

In November 2012, Chu bought Danish brand Georg Jensen A/S with Investcorp. He currently is Chairman of the board and Creative Director.^[11]

As of 2014, Chu lived in a townhouse in Flatiron, New York^[12]

• Taiwanese in New York City

• David Chu at FMD
• Asian American Profiles: David Chu at GoldSea.com
• *David Chu: Celebrated Entrepreneur and Designer Archived 2012-05-09 at the Wayback Machine