Key Takeaways
- David Chang wore BlueCut's El Jefe Apron in charcoal canvas at the opening of Majordōmo in Los Angeles in January 2018.
- Our co-founder Chachi Prasad was there, and we still have the Instagram post from January 27, 2018.
- More than eight years later, the El Jefe keeps showing up in Chang's kitchen, including on Netflix's Dinner Time Live with David Chang and The Dave Chang Show.
- No sponsorship. No partnership.
- The El Jefe is a roomy 39" x 42" bib apron with a chest pocket, a pen and thermometer pocket, and two signature lap pockets, made in canvas, twill, and denim.
What Apron Does David Chang Wear?
People ask us this more often than you'd expect. It usually starts with a screenshot from Dinner Time Live and a simple question: whose apron is that?
In a lot of those clips, it's ours.
David Chang has been wearing the BlueCut El Jefe Apron for years, from the opening night of Majordōmo in Los Angeles to his live cooking show on Netflix. We're a small, independently owned apron and uniform company in LA, so we don't take that lightly. And we'd rather tell the story plainly than dress it up as an endorsement, because it isn't one.
Where It Started: Majordōmo, January 2018
Majordōmo opened in Los Angeles in January 2018 as Chang's first West Coast restaurant. By then he'd already built Momofuku in New York and shared the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef award in 2013, so the opening drew a crowd.
Our co-founder Chachi Prasad was there to celebrate. Chang was wearing our El Jefe Apron in charcoal canvas that night, and Chachi got a photo with him. We posted it on Instagram on January 27, 2018.
At the time, it just felt like a great night and a nice photo, and we didn't expect much more than that.
More Than Eight Years of Appearances
One photo at an opening is a moment. An apron that keeps coming back for years is something else entirely, and that's the part of this story we're proudest of.
Since that night, the El Jefe has made repeat appearances in Chang's kitchen. You can spot it on Dinner Time Live with David Chang, Netflix's live cooking series broadcast from his downtown Los Angeles kitchen. Netflix describes the show as cooking in real time with "no stylists, no swap-outs, and no edits." It's also turned up on The Dave Chang Show, where he welcomes guests into his kitchen for a meal and conversation.
Live TV is hard on gear. If a strap slips or a pocket sits in the wrong place, there's no retake. We can't speak for why Chang keeps reaching for the El Jefe, and we won't pretend to. But we do know what we built it to do.
A Personal Connection
BlueCut is run by Chachi Prasad and Karam Kim, a husband-and-wife design team. One of our founders is Korean, so seeing a Korean-American chef like David Chang wear our work, year after year, feels a little more personal than a typical brand moment.
We'll leave it at that.
Inside the El Jefe Apron
So what is the El Jefe, exactly? It's one of our bib aprons, cut larger than standard so it fits the person wearing it instead of riding high and tight across the chest.
- Size: 39" long and 42" wide, enough to cover most people from the chest to around the knee.
- Neck strap: 12" and adjustable.
- Waist ties: 48" long and 3/4" wide, so you can wrap them around and tie in front.
- Pockets: A chest pocket, a pen and thermometer pocket, and two signature lap pockets.
- Finishing: Signature side stitching, plus antique brass hardware on the canvas version.
Fabric is where you get to choose. The El Jefe Canvas Chef Apron is made from 12 oz. duck canvas and comes in charcoal, the same shade Chang wore at Majordōmo, along with colors like Whiskey, Forest Green, and Navy. Our twill version, the El Jefe Apron in twill, is also a 12 oz. fabric, in shades like Peppercorn and Sahara. If you run warm on the line, the El Jefe denim apron is a lighter 10 oz. indigo.
Don't love weight on your neck during a long shift? The El Jefe Crossback Apron keeps the same idea but uses a crossback design, which many cooks find more comfortable over a full day.
Why do details like lap pockets and long ties matter? Because in a working kitchen you're reaching for a towel, a thermometer, or a pen dozens of times a shift, and we've written more about that in why chefs should wear professional chef aprons.
Designed by Apparel People, Built for Kitchens
Before BlueCut, Chachi and Karam spent years in New York's Seventh Avenue fashion industry, working with designer brands like John Varvatos, Yigal Azrouel, and Oscar de la Renta, and later ran their own denim line, Bishop. Then chefs started asking them for aprons, and in 2009 they made aprons for several restaurants. The response was strong enough that BlueCut launched as its own company in 2014.
That background still shapes everything we make. We think about fabric, fit, construction, and patternmaking the way a design house would, then we test all of it against the reality of a commercial kitchen. Our El Jefe aprons are handmade in California, and many of our fabrics come from mills in the USA, Japan, and Europe. For larger uniform programs, we pair that local production with established overseas manufacturing. You can read the full story on our Who We Are page.
Is that a lot of thought for an apron? Maybe. But when a chef keeps wearing the same design for close to a decade, we think the effort shows.
Outfitting Your Own Team
Away from the cameras, most of what we make goes to restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups that want their teams to look sharp and stay comfortable through a long service.
If the El Jefe fits your crew, you can add custom apron embroidery for names or your logo. Ordering for a bigger team? Our wholesale restaurant uniforms program offers volume pricing on aprons, chef coats, and work shirts. And when you want something built from scratch, our custom process starts with a consult with our design team, moves through fabric and trim choices and prototyping, and in most cases has production ready in 2 to 3 weeks.
Based in Southern California? Our Downtown Los Angeles showroom lets you see fabrics and options in person before you commit. You can also browse our full range of professional chef aprons online.
Get Your Team in an Apron Built to Last
Whether you want the same El Jefe that's been in David Chang's kitchen since 2018 or a uniform program designed around your restaurant's identity, we'd love to help. Start your custom restaurant uniform project with BlueCut, and our team will get back to you quickly with options for your kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What apron does David Chang wear?
David Chang has been seen wearing BlueCut's El Jefe Apron since at least January 2018, when he wore it in charcoal canvas at the opening of Majordōmo in Los Angeles. Our co-founder Chachi Prasad was at that opening. It's appeared in his kitchen many times since.
What apron does David Chang wear on Dinner Time Live?
He's been seen wearing BlueCut's El Jefe Apron on Netflix's Dinner Time Live with David Chang, which streams live from his downtown Los Angeles kitchen. It's also appeared on The Dave Chang Show.
Is David Chang sponsored by BlueCut?
No. There's no official partnership or endorsement between David Chang and BlueCut. He's simply worn our El Jefe Apron over the years, and we're grateful it's earned a spot in his kitchen.
What is the El Jefe Apron made of?
It comes in three fabrics: 12 oz. duck canvas, 12 oz. twill, and a 10 oz. indigo denim. A crossback canvas version is also available.
How big is the El Jefe Apron?
It measures 39" long by 42" wide, with a 12" adjustable neck strap and 48" waist ties, so it's cut roomier than a standard bib apron.
Can restaurants order the El Jefe Apron in bulk or with a logo?
Yes. BlueCut offers text and logo embroidery (logos carry a one-time digitizing fee), volume pricing through our wholesale program, and fully custom uniform development for restaurant and hospitality groups.
Where is BlueCut based?
BlueCut is an independently owned hospitality apparel company in Los Angeles with a showroom in Downtown LA. Our El Jefe aprons are handmade in California, and we also work with overseas manufacturing for larger-volume uniform programs. Our founders started making aprons for restaurants in 2009 and launched BlueCut in 2014.