Meet Taiwan's 'grand' couple! From running laundry to becoming Instagram stars
Taiwan's trendiest couple these days are neither young celebrities nor teen influencers -- they are an octogenarian duo who run a mom-and-pop laundry service and have become an online sensation by modelling abandoned clothes.
Featured in Vogue
They have even been featured in the Taiwanese edition of Vogue and Marie Claire.
The couple have run a laundry for decades in a small town near the central city of Taichung.
Over the years, customers have either forgotten or failed to collect reams of clothing that the couple never felt able to throw away.
(Photograph:AFP)
Naturals in front of the camera
Grandson Reef Chang, 31, hit upon the idea of using the clothes to alleviate the couple's boredom.
"My grandpa and grandma were staring blankly at the streets because business wasn't good," he told AFP. "I wanted to find something new they could enjoy doing."
The pair were naturals in front of the camera.
(Photograph:AFP)
'Heart is not ageing'
"Modelling these clothes makes me feel 30 years younger," beamed Chang, when AFP paid a visit to the store earlier this week.
"Many people are telling me 'You are famous now and you look younger'."
Hsu felt so, too.
"I am old in age but my heart is not ageing," she said. "I like to put on pretty clothes and go out to have some fun."
(Photograph:AFP)
Worldwide fame
It was while modelling other people's garments, Hsu came to remember that she also had many forgotten outfits in her closet which she has since rediscovered.
"I even found some clothes I bought 30 years ago and I can still wear them. It's a happy surprise," she said.
The couple's Instagram account -- @wantshowasyoung -- is managed by grandson Reef.
(Photograph:AFP)
Re-use clothes
The couple tied the knot in an arranged marriage six decades ago, a practice then common in Taiwan.
Chang said he had thought about retiring but decided to stay on as long as he can as the laundry business has become less labour-intensive thanks to machines.
"Elderly people should keep moving and remain active or we will age faster... When I am working and being kept busy, I don't have time to worry," he said.
Chang says he has lost count of how many garments have gone uncollected in his shop over the decades but he thinks there are at least 400 items at the moment.
(Photograph:AFP)