About
Al's Formal Wear Mission Statement
Our mission is to meet and exceed our customer's expectations
by delivering superior service and exceptional value through
fashionable quality merchandise and motivated, friendly
employees who perform with pride and dedication.
Company History
With a simple love of formal wear and a big idea, Al Sankary
opened a tuxedo store in the Dallas area in 1952. A few years
later, Sankary's brother-in-law Alan 'Al' Gaylor along with wife
Lillian, opened the first Houston store in the downtown area,
officially making Al's Formal Wear a family business. With two Als
behind Al's Formal Wear, they were destined for greatness.
Gaylor's Houston shop had 1,000 square feet of space and a rent
base of $200. At that time, a stylish gentleman could be formally
outfitted in a tuxedo for a total cost of only $5.95. From these
humble beginnings, the Gaylors and Al Sankary went on to build
the greatest family-owned formalwear outfitter in the southwest.
As the years went by, the business continued to grow under
Gaylor's and Sankary's hard work and direction. They
successfully outfitted customers through many decades and
fashion trends in the 50s and 60s, through the 90s and now the
2000s. Many customers have rented their prom and wedding
tuxedos from Al's Formal Wear, as well as their tuxedos for their
children and grandchildren's weddings.
Al's Formal Wear currently has over 100 stores located in Texas,
Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Colorado. Al's also has a
wholesale division, Ascot Formal Wear, which supplies
formalwear shops across the United States with tuxedos.
Rounding out Al's services to consumers is CRDN of Houston,
which specializes in restoring clothing and other fabric items
damaged by fires and floods.
After more than 50 years of building a tuxedo empire for his
family, Alan Gaylor turned over the presidency to his son Stuart
in 1995. Since he took the reins, the company has continued to
flourish. Al's Formal Wear is currently building more stores in
new markets and has plans for many more in the near future.
On the morning of April 15, 2008, the man who set the standard
for tuxedo rental left this earth a much better place. Alan Gaylor,
a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, turned what
started as a dream into a tuxedo empire. He is best remembered
for his generous nature and incredible zest for life. His life motto
was "If you are going to do something, do it right!" Alan Gaylor
applied this to every aspect of his life and instilled the same
attitude in his 4 children, and 12 grandchildren.
"Our business from day one was built on providing excellent
customer service and quality merchandise at affordable prices,
and we continue to build our business on this premise today,"
stated Mr. Gaylor.
Al's Formal Wear has Al-ways dressed you better and Al-ways
will!