Al's Formal Wear
Al's Formal Wear is a chain of tuxedo rental stores based in Houston, Texas. Originally founded by Alan B. Gaylor with one store in downtown Houston in 1957, the company has grown to over 90 locations in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Al's Formal Wear is a family-owned business, with Alan Gaylor as CEO and his son Stuart as company president.
The company stocks over 70 styles of tuxedos for rental, including designer names such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Andrew Fezza. The company also carries a wide variety of formal wear and accessories for retail purchase, as well as a full line of career apparel for occupations needing formal dress.
Al's Formal Wear fills orders for weddings, high school proms, quinceaneras and other events from its computerized, state-of-the-art distribution centers. On-site dry cleaning plants and alteration facilities at the distribution centers ensure quality and consistency.
Awards and Recognition
In 2003, Al's Formal Wear was named "Texas Family Business of the Year" in the Large Family Business category by Baylor University's Institute for Family Business.
In 2000, Al's Formal Wear was listed at number 4 on the Houston Business Journal's list of "Top 50 Family Owned Businesses."
In 1995, founder Alan Gaylor was presented with the International Formalwear Association Black Tie Award in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the men's formal wear industry.
References
"Baylor University to Honor 13 Texas Family Businesses". Baylor University. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
"Black Tie Award Winners". International Formalwear Association. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
Houston Business Journal, (2000). "Top 50 Family Owned Businesses"
Van Camp, Emily, (2005). "The family business: Al's Formal Wear rises to the occasion with its family of formal wear stores." US Business Review 6.2, p.284.