Francis Cheong started his career in fashion in the late 1970s, when won the Her World magazine Singapore Young Designer Contest. Hired by the Jean Yip Group as a designer (for the boutique Just A Second), Cheong later opened his first boutique in 1984, in Lucky Plaza. His boutique-atelier has occupied several different locations along Orchard Road--from Wisma Atria, to The Promenade, to Orchard Hotel and Delfi Orchard. His designs feature high embellishments, often incorporating couture techniques, intricate beadwork, and embroidery. This men's suit includes an embroidered and beaded jacket featuring motifs of a dragon and phoenix, which are traditional symbols denoting harmony and balance between the partners. The trousers are lined with red satin-weave fabric, with ears at the side pockets revealing this material.