5 Korean Designers to Watch at Seoul Fashion Week S/S 2014 - Seoul Fashion Week (SFW)
kicks off its spring/summer 2014 edition on October18 for a six-day
run, offering over 70 shows by top South Korean designers as well as
international designers from Singapore. The main venues this season
include the IFC Mall and Yeouido Park in Yeouido, and Grand Hyatt
Seoul’s Grand Ballroom in Hannam-dong, all in central Seoul.
The biggest fashion event in Korea has grown in both size and quality over the past 13 years. It has been drawing more international attention than ever during recent seasons, as many of its participating talent have become regulars at fashion shows overseas including New York and Paris. BLOUIN ARTINFO Korea picks five Korean designers not to be missed.
1. beyond closet by Ko, Tae Yong
Ko, Tae Yong, who just returned to Seoul after making a successful New York debut in September with his delightful gym-inspired sportswear, is definitely one to keep an eye on this season. He received favorable reviews for his s/s 2014 menswear showcased at New York Fashion Week along with lines by three other Korean designers — Park Yoon Soo, Choi Boko, and Lee Suk-Tae — as part of Concept Korea. His signature color blocks turned even more playful and color-saturated than his previous f/w 2013 collection.
October 18 (Friday), 3pm at Yeouido Park
2. pushBUTTON by Park Seunggun
A favorite among press and celebrities — especially Korean fashion magazine editors who confess that without pushBUTTON it would be impossible to get photo shoots done — Park Seunggun is one of the most highly anticipated creative directors who deftly steals the hearts of the fashion-savvy. He does not hesitate to add new and daring touches to his whimsical lines, but never loses the overall sophistication. His previous f/w 2013 collection won favorable reviews, as have his collaboration projects with Puma, Cheil Industries Fashion, and his friend/muse Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin.
October 20 (Sunday), 4pm at IFC Mall
3. Steve J & Yoni P
The hottest designer couple in Korea, Steve J & Yoni P is expected to bring something mischievous and fun to the runway as usual. Their British street style-inspired collections featuring witty twists such as exotic animal prints have attracted a long list of A-list Korean stars every season, including K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri. The power duo’s previous f/w 2013 collection displayed a fun mix between classic and punk. Their collections are distributed in major department stores and select shops in the U.S., U.K., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and also four Asian territories including Hong Kong.
October 21 (Monday), 6pm at IFC Mall
4. jardin de chouette and LUCKY CHOUETTE
Created by designer Kim Jae-hyun in 2005, jardin de chouette quickly won a large fan base, with praise for its classic, feminine silhouettes and cute owl patterns. Kim launched her second brand LUCKY CHOUETTE in 2009 to offer a more accessible, street-inspired line. The new brand is getting noticed by fashion-conscious women in their 20s and early 30s, especially after FNC Kolon, one of Korea's leading clothing manufacturers, took over the two brands last year. Both of the brands will be showcased at Seoul Fashion Week this season, making Kim the first designer-ever to present all of her labels.
October 22 (Tuesday), 6pm (jardin de chouette) and 8pm (LUCKY CHOUETTE) at Grand Hyatt Seoul
5. Johnny Hates Jazz by Choi Ji Hyung
Chic yet laid-back sometimes, Johnny Hates Jazz targets women in their 20s and 30s who pursue a high-powered career but also know how to enjoy life. That is why Choi Ji Hyung usually goes with urbane designs added with unexpected, jazzy twists that make one do a double take. Last season, her simple and well-tailored coats in the f/w 2013 collection have drawn plenty of attention.
October 22 (Tuesday), 12pm at IFC Mall
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The biggest fashion event in Korea has grown in both size and quality over the past 13 years. It has been drawing more international attention than ever during recent seasons, as many of its participating talent have become regulars at fashion shows overseas including New York and Paris. BLOUIN ARTINFO Korea picks five Korean designers not to be missed.
Ko, Tae Yong, who just returned to Seoul after making a successful New York debut in September with his delightful gym-inspired sportswear, is definitely one to keep an eye on this season. He received favorable reviews for his s/s 2014 menswear showcased at New York Fashion Week along with lines by three other Korean designers — Park Yoon Soo, Choi Boko, and Lee Suk-Tae — as part of Concept Korea. His signature color blocks turned even more playful and color-saturated than his previous f/w 2013 collection.
October 18 (Friday), 3pm at Yeouido Park
2. pushBUTTON by Park Seunggun
A favorite among press and celebrities — especially Korean fashion magazine editors who confess that without pushBUTTON it would be impossible to get photo shoots done — Park Seunggun is one of the most highly anticipated creative directors who deftly steals the hearts of the fashion-savvy. He does not hesitate to add new and daring touches to his whimsical lines, but never loses the overall sophistication. His previous f/w 2013 collection won favorable reviews, as have his collaboration projects with Puma, Cheil Industries Fashion, and his friend/muse Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin.
October 20 (Sunday), 4pm at IFC Mall
3. Steve J & Yoni P
The hottest designer couple in Korea, Steve J & Yoni P is expected to bring something mischievous and fun to the runway as usual. Their British street style-inspired collections featuring witty twists such as exotic animal prints have attracted a long list of A-list Korean stars every season, including K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri. The power duo’s previous f/w 2013 collection displayed a fun mix between classic and punk. Their collections are distributed in major department stores and select shops in the U.S., U.K., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and also four Asian territories including Hong Kong.
October 21 (Monday), 6pm at IFC Mall
4. jardin de chouette and LUCKY CHOUETTE
Created by designer Kim Jae-hyun in 2005, jardin de chouette quickly won a large fan base, with praise for its classic, feminine silhouettes and cute owl patterns. Kim launched her second brand LUCKY CHOUETTE in 2009 to offer a more accessible, street-inspired line. The new brand is getting noticed by fashion-conscious women in their 20s and early 30s, especially after FNC Kolon, one of Korea's leading clothing manufacturers, took over the two brands last year. Both of the brands will be showcased at Seoul Fashion Week this season, making Kim the first designer-ever to present all of her labels.
October 22 (Tuesday), 6pm (jardin de chouette) and 8pm (LUCKY CHOUETTE) at Grand Hyatt Seoul
5. Johnny Hates Jazz by Choi Ji Hyung
Chic yet laid-back sometimes, Johnny Hates Jazz targets women in their 20s and 30s who pursue a high-powered career but also know how to enjoy life. That is why Choi Ji Hyung usually goes with urbane designs added with unexpected, jazzy twists that make one do a double take. Last season, her simple and well-tailored coats in the f/w 2013 collection have drawn plenty of attention.
October 22 (Tuesday), 12pm at IFC Mall