One of the famous Hong Kong drapers, furnishers, dressmakers, and milliners.
William Powell founded his company in 1884 under the name "W. Powell & Co". In 1901 it was converted to a limited liability company under the name "Wm. Powell Ltd".
The company change it's location quite often but stayed at Queen's Road Central.
First location was likely in the building of the Victoria Hotel.
Next was in the Victoria Exchange, 50-52 QRC.
By the end of the 1890s, they moved to the former Hong Kong Club Building at 34 QRC.
[Update 2024-12-18; see comment below] In the first half of 1902, they additionally opened a Gentlemen's Store at 28 Queen's Road C., "opposite Post Office" (at the junction with Wyndham Street). In 1904, they moved to 28 QRC completely.
Later they also had a store in the Alexandra Buildings, DesVoeux Road.
Was probably absorbed by Lane, Crawford in the 1920s, and finally dissolved in 1952.
Source and further reading: Famous HK Tailors (Part Two)
Photos of this organisation:
Comments
1910 at des voeux road
This picture shows the main store in the Alexandra Buildings, DesVoeux Road.
They were already at 28 QRC…
They were already at 28 QRC in early 1903 with the branch at 28 QRC dealing in Gents' Hosiery and the 34 QRC address dealing in Ladies' and Children's wear.
An update: The 28 QRC…
An update: The 28 QRC address was already present in early 1902 (in addition to the 34 QRC address) as shown by another whole page ad
Source: The Hong Kong Telegraph, page 8, 21st April 1902