The building that today houses House of Story Wear has stood in Dadaocheng for more than a century.

What visitors see today as Xining North Road was once very different. In front of the shophouse flowed a small waterway known as Gangzai Canal, connected directly to the Tamsui River. During the late Qing Dynasty and early Japanese colonial era, boats carrying tea and goods passed through these waters, helping transform Dadaocheng into one of Taiwan's most important commercial districts.

Because the house stood at a bend in the canal, the building was set back from the street, creating the distinctive frontage still visible today. It is a subtle reminder that the shape of the city was once determined by water rather than roads. [houseofstorywear.com]

 
From Tea to Textiles

As Taipei evolved, so too did Dadaocheng. What began as a thriving tea-trading district gradually became one of Taiwan's most important centres for textiles, fabrics and garment manufacturing.

Over its long history, this very building served many purposes, including as a textile mill. Within these walls, generations of workers and entrepreneurs contributed to the development of Taiwan's textile industry. Few places could be more appropriate for Story Wear, a brand dedicated to giving textiles a second life.

 
A Story Continues

When we searched for a home for House of Story Wear, we were looking for more than a beautiful building. We were searching for a place with a story.

This house embodies many of the themes that define our work today: trade, craftsmanship, textiles, reinvention and community. More than a century ago, new fabrics and materials flowed through Dadaocheng to help build Taiwan's economy. Today, we are exploring how discarded textiles can be transformed into something valuable once again.

From tea to textiles. From manufacturing to circular fashion. From commerce to culture. The story of this building is still being written. And House of Story Wear is proud to be part of its next chapter.