Korean fashion designers attract fashion people in New York

Korean fashion designers attract fashion people in New York. September. 16, 2015 07:14. bookum90@donga.com.

Korean fashion designers have captured the eyes of fashion insiders with a style based on Korea’s characteristics during the Spring-Summer 2016 New York Fashion Week, one of the world’s four major fashion shows.

In the "Concept Korea" jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency held at Moynihan Station in the 33rd street of Manhattan in New York on Monday morning, apparels made by designers Lee Seok-tae and Lee Ji-yeon, who were selected as representative designers of Korea after fierce competition, were introduced on the runway. Lee Seok-tae presented clothes made of various materials such as denim and leather under the theme of "From Dust to Dust." A dress with a biblical verse embroidered in Korean letters drew much attention. Lee Ji-yeon expressed an image of a modern girl who is struggling in two identities of the Snow White princess and the Witch. Models in her show wore hair accessories in the shape of Binyeo, the Korean traditional ornamental hairpin. “I wanted to express a harmony between the Korean beauty and the Western beauty,” said Lee.

Designer Lee Sang-bong’s fashion show held in the same place on Sunday was well-received by fashion people. Scarves, which turned Korean patchwork into mosaic and stained glass patterns, and dresses with Korean lyrics of Arirang, Korea’s traditional song, attracted great attention. “I wanted to show Korea’s traditional culture such as Arirang, Korean letters and patchwork can draw attention and sympathy from the world. Especially, Hangul or Korean letters, which is more beautiful than any other letters in the world, is the best material to express "Korean beauty,” said Lee.

Industry insiders analyzed that such strong presence of Korean designers in the New York Fashion Week is the result of Korean designers’ confidence, as Korea’s national status has been raised and the Korean culture wave, Hallyu, is spreading all over the world. “As evidenced by ‘Concept Korea,’ organized to help Korean designers to advance into the American fashion industry, Korean fashion has become an important part of the fashion week. Korean designers’ brands are highly recognized in the fashion industry of the U.S.,” said Jennifer Taylor, vice president of IMG which is the host company of the fashion week.

"Glow Recipe," a company which distributes Korean cosmetics in the U.S., participated in the Concept Korea event this year. The cosmetic distributor holds events to let New Yorkers know about the "K-beauty," Korea’s beauty products, along with the K-fashion. “As the world pays more attention to the Korean beauty, a synergy impact can be achieved across various areas such as fashion and beauty,” said Hong Jeong-yong, chief of Mass Culture Industry division at the Korea Creative Content Agency.