Fashion in South Korea

File:아침시장이 형성된 남대문 안 거리 풍경 (cropped).jpg in 1904. Most people are wearing white.]]

Winter clothes were typically made using soft cotton stuffed between layers of silk or cotton. Clothes worn in the summer were made from hemp and ramie.{{Cite web|url=http://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korean-Life/Clothing|title=Clothing and Fashion|website=Korea.net|access-date=2019-03-14}} Components of these clothes helped to form the look and style of the traditional Korean dress, hanbok.

For thousands of years, Koreans nearly exclusively wore white hanbok; this tradition is believed to have stemmed from the Three Kingdoms period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/dress-clothing|title=Dress - The history of Eastern dress|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-03-14}} To Koreans, white traditionally symbolizes simplicity, integrity, innocence and nobility.{{Cite journal|title=White Hanbok as an Expression of Resistance in Modern Korea|last=Seo|first=Bong-Ha|date=20 October 2014|journal=Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles|volume=39|pages=121|doi=10.5850/jksct.2015.39.1.121}}

File:Korean old fashioned costume.jpg.|320x320px]]

• 1950s–60s: Introduction of Western clothing into Korean culture.
• 1970s–80s: Development of ready-made clothes industry (factory-made clothing, off-the-peg).
• 1980s–90s: Organization of SFA{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}; increased popularity of designer brands.
• Present: Internationalization of fashion; overseas expansion of Korean designer clothes.{{cite web|url=http://fashion.mk.co.kr/view.php?no=398476&year=2013|script-title=ko:전 세계 300여 명의 패션 바이어가 극찬한 한국 신진디자이너들 |language=ko |publisher=MK fashion|date=23 May 2013 |access-date= 23 May 2013}}

"The South Korean fashion of today began in the late 1800s with an intertwining of western influences. Before that point, during the Joseon period (1392-1897), the Korean hanbok was the typical fashion choice. Hanboks consisted of a blouse and loose-fitting pants or skirt. For women, they wore a jeongi (blouse or jacket) and a chima (skirt); and men wore jeongi and baji (pants). Hanboks were everyday wear with lavish versions worn by the elite. During this period, makeup was made from natural materials and traditionally simple. However, by the late 1800s with the arrival of westerners and Japanese influence, Korean fashion and makeup began to lose its traditional style and elements."

• 1917–1919: Textile industry opens; Joseon Textile Corporation and Kangsung Textiles are established and a labor-intensive industry with inexpensive workforce begins.
• 1960: Labor-intensive industry changes when the first mass-producing corporations appear.
• 1970: Beginning of the women's clothing industry; minority designers make female ready-made suits in small boutiques.{{cite web|url=http://news.unn.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=121966|script-title=ko:70년대 고속성장한 한국|language=ko |publisher= Daily UNN(한국대학신문)|date=25 March 2013|access-date= 23 May 2013}}
• 1972–1977: Major companies participate in making ready-made clothes (there is an automatic increase in the quality of clothing).
• After 1970s: Because of increased GNP and the social debut of women, more diverse women's clothing begins to appear.
• 1980–1982: Advent of color TV;{{cite web|url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201108012133055&code=100100|title=[어제의 오늘]1980년 컬러TV 국내 첫 출시한국|language=ko |publisher=Kyunghyang Shinmun|date= 1 August 2011 |access-date=23 May 2013}} school uniform and hairstyle regulations impact fashion in South Korea.
• 1986–1988: Hosting of Asian Games and 1988 Summer Olympics increases development of sport clothing brands.
• 1997: Fashion industry declines in the IMF.{{cite web|url=http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1997111900099101008&editNo=15&printCount=1&publishDate=1997-11-19&officeId=00009&pageNo=1&printNo=9913&publishType=00010 |script-title=ko:네이버 뉴스 라이브러리 |language=ko |publisher=Newslibrary.naver.com |date= 19 May 2013 |access-date=23 May 2013}}
• 1999: Fashion industry recovers (high class materials with famous brands increasingly noticeable).{{cite web|url=https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2007/04/137_1534.html |title=Warning Over Economic Crisis |work=The Korea Times|date=22 April 2007 |access-date=23 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115153/http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2007/04/137_1534.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}
• Present: Government support and public attention leads to growth of designer fashion; Korean fashion industry is establishing its position in the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2013030381001 |script-title=ko:세계브랜드와 경쟁 |language=ko |publisher=The Hankyoreh(한겨래) |date=28 March 2013 |access-date=13 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054427/http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2013030381001 |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}

• 1955: An official name-designer was used primarily in South Korea; authorized designers are Norano Soo-kyung Seo, Young-ae Kim (kor : 노라노, 서수경, 김영애).{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
• 1958: First fashion contest opens.{{cite web|url=http://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.nhn?articleId=1999090600329107001&edtNo=40&printCount=1&publishDate=1999-09-06&officeId=00032&pageNo=7&printNo=16845&publishType=00010 |title=1세대 패션디자이너 |publisher= naver news library |date=6 September 1999|access-date=13 June 2013}}
• 1962: First international fashion show.
• 1964: Second fashion contest opens.
• 1966: Korean fashion show opens in South-East Asia expo.
• 1969: KAFDA (Korean Designers in New York Association) is established.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalwindow.org/gw/overmarket/GWOMAL020M.html?BBS_ID=10&MENU_CD=M10103&UPPER_MENU_CD=M10102&MENU_STEP=3&ARTICLE_ID=2044999 |title=프랑스에서 바라본 한국 패션쇼 |work=globalwindow.org|date= 3 April 2008 |access-date=28 May 2013}}
• 1970: Korean fashion show opens in Japan at Expo '70.
• 1972: Farmer fashion show opens in the community development research society and KPD (Busan Designer Association) is established.
• 1983: First competitive exhibition for textile and fashion design opens.
• 1987: Ssangbangul (kor: 쌍방울) opens; first multidisciplinary cloth fashion show.
• 1990: S.F.A.A collection openshttps, and designer Sin-woo Lee participates in Tokyo collection; fashion in South Korea becomes widely known thanks to the Tokyo collection.
• 1992: Daejeon expo uniform festival opens and Korean designers go overseas.
• 1993: Korean designers participate in prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear fashion) in Paris.
• Present: South Korean designers hold Korean fashion shows in many countries, often showcasing Korean styles.{{cite web|url=http://fashion.mk.co.kr/view.php?no=433607&year=2013|script-title=ko:'세계 속 한국스타일'|language=ko|publisher=MK fashion|date=4 June 2013|access-date=13 June 2013|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129235923/http://fashion.mk.co.kr/view.php?no=433607&year=2013|url-status=dead}}
• 2011: Hanbok fashion show was held in Seoul, South Korean. Hanbok is as considered the traditional clothing for Korean custom.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/OU04ee-9W-q/Hanbok+Fashion+Show|title=Hanbok Fashion Show|website=Zimbio|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02}}

In the early 1990s, designer Lee Shin Woo participated in the Tokyo Collection.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}} Lee Shin Woo, Lee Young Hee, Jin Tea Ok, Hong Mi Wha, and others participated in the pret-a-porter in Paris. Korean designers appeared actively on the global stage, with their designs being shown all over the world. The Korean government started to encourage talented designers. By the end of the 1990s, the encouragement of talented designers declined due to the currency crisis. Lately, the government has supported designers, and also ones who are less successful in the domestic economy are beginning to advance abroad.{{cite book|last=Shin|first=Hye-sun|title=Hanʼguk pʻaesyŏn 100-yŏn = 100 years of western costume in Korea|year=2008|publisher=Misul Munhwa (Art Culture)|location=Sŏul-si|isbn=9788991847590|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cf8RAQAAMAAJ&q=%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD+%ED%8C%A8%EC%85%98+100%EB%85%84|edition=Chʻopʻan.}}

• Moon Young Hee is a designer who expresses Korean ideas in a modernistic way. By the end of the 1960s, she had worked as a designer in Wha Shin Renaun, and founded the 'Moon boutique' ready-made clothing brand in 1974. In 1992, she founded the 'Moon Young Hee' designer brand.{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Hana|title='패션 한류'여성이 이끈다 (Women lead 'Fashion Hallyu')|url=http://www.womennews.co.kr/news/56434|access-date=8 June 2013|newspaper=Women Newspaper|date=1 March 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141500/http://www.womennews.co.kr/news/56434|url-status=dead}}
• Andre Kim (24 August 1935 (Gyeonggi-do Goyang-si) – 12 August 2010) was a South Korean fashion designer based in Seoul, South Korea. He was known predominantly for his evening and wedding gown collections.{{cite web|title=Andre Kim's real estate worth 30 billion won |url=https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/08/113_71414.html |work=The Korea Times|date=13 August 2010 |access-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221030356/http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/08/113_71414.html |archive-date=21 December 2013 }}
• Lie Sang-Bong is a major fashion designer who shows Korean fashions in pret-a-porter, which is the core of the global fashion industry. Lie graduated from the Seoul Institute of the Arts and made his debut as a fashion designer in 1983 when he won a prize in the Central Design Contest. In 1993, he gained attention from the Korean fashion community by presenting his first collection, 'The Reincarnation', at Seoul Fashion Week. He was later nominated as "Best Designer of the Year" in 1999 by the Mayor of Seoul. Finally, in 2002 he made his debut in Paris and launched his first title, 'The Lost Memoir'. In 2006, Lie Sang-Bong held his place as a global designer, showing hangeul design clothes for the first time, and has provided custom designs for Yuna Kim. Lie Sang-Bong is emerging as an 'influential designer' since the death of Andre Kim.{{cite news|last=Park|first=Dong-mi|title= 대한민국 파워 60인> 패션-디자인의 '포스트 앙드레김' 이상봉 디자이너 (power 60 of South Korea, Lee Sang Bong, post Andre Kim)|url=http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20130514000734&md=20130517004528_AS|access-date=7 June 2013|newspaper=Herald economy|date=16 May 2013}}
• Steve J & Yoni Pare married designers. They make witty and characteristic clothes.{{cite book|last=P|first=Yoni|title=Steve Yonis Design Studio|year=2011|publisher=book house|isbn=9788956055473}} They held their 2013 FW Collection on 27 March 2013 (4:00 pm) in Yeuido IFC. The theme of Steve J & Yoni P's 2013 FW collection is 'Classic Meet Punk'.{{cite news|last=Choi|first=Jung a|title=이효리-윤승아-현아-아이비, Steve J & Yoni P 2013 FW 컬렉션 참석(many stars had attended Steve J & Yoni P FW Collection.)|url=http://www.sportsworldi.com/Articles/EntCulture/Article.asp?aid=20130327005487&subctg1=50&subctg2=00&OutUrl=naver|newspaper=Sports World|date=27 March 2013}}
• Designer Lee Suk Tae graduated at L'ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and L'ecole de studio berco in Paris. He was selected in a young French designers' contest in Paris and has worked in the Paris headquarters of Sonia Rykiel and Christian Dior. He launched his own brand in 1997 and was invited by the Korean Fashion Association to present a collection at Hong Kong Fashion Week. He has since inaugurated his own store in Gangnam and been selected as one of Seoul's "10 Soul Designers".{{cite news|last=Choi|first=Seung Geun|title=GS샵, 이석태 디자이너 두 번째 브랜드 론칭(GS shop, Designer Suctae Lee launched second brand)|url=http://www.newstomato.com/ReadNews.aspx?no=351383|newspaper=tomato news|date=5 April 2013}}
• Andersson Bell is a Korean designer brand that is rising in popularity and whose clothing is inspired by both Korean and Scandinavian cultures. This brand is selling well in the European market and is also placed in the Net-A-Porter online shopping platform.{{Cite web|last=Net-A-Porter|title=NET-A-PORTER {{!}} Luxury Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle for Women|url=https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-us/shop/designer/andersson-bell|access-date=2021-03-03|website=NET-A-PORTER}}

Supertalent Fashion Week, is a clothing trade show to be held globally, represents Supermodel Influencers of Supertalent of the World, photographers, art directors and stylists, producing fashion events in several countries. Its organizers collaborate with industry organizations and work with local and national governments. it was held Seoul to Eiffel Tower of Paris, Ferrari Auto of Modena, Cannes, Milan, Venice, Rome, positioned world leader of Supermodel Influencer. It was held at the Korea International Exhibition Center, Daegu Textile Complex, Incheon International Airport,{{cite news|url=http://www.stardailynews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=146093|title=슈퍼탤런트, 오늘은 패션모델 '킨텍스 패션쇼'|date=12 May 2017|work=Star Daily|access-date=10 November 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.e2news.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=102707|title=아바타TV '미스 슈퍼탤런트 2017' 현장 생중계|date=12 October 2017|access-date=10 November 2017|publisher=e2news}}{{cite news|url=http://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20171020_0000123684&cID=10810&pID=10800|title=[대구소식]대구도시철도, 디트로 패션쇼 개최 등|date=21 October 2017|access-date=10 November 2017|publisher=Newsis}} South Korea, Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette,{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsseoul.com/news/read/699670|title=슈퍼탤런트 시즌 11, 라파에트 갤러리와 파리 오페라좌를 더욱 눈부시게~|access-date=10 November 2018|publisher=Sports Seoul=10 November 2018}} Paris, Jungfrau,{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsseoul.com/news/read/697515|title=알프스의 비경 융프라우에서 패션쇼를 펼친 슈퍼탤런트 참가자들, 아이거 앞에서 신고식을~|access-date=12 November 2018|publisher=Sports Seoul=5 November 2018}} Schilthorn,{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsseoul.com/news/read/697888|title=슈퍼탤런트 시즌 11, 알프스를 런웨이로 만들어버려~|access-date=12 November 2018|publisher=Sports Seoul=6 November 2018}} Switzerland

{{Main article|Seoul Fashion Week}}

The Seoul Fashion Week{{cite web|url=https://www.seoulfashionweek.org/|title=Seoul Fashion Week}} is a global fashion event held twice a year in the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. Started in 1987 it is sponsored by the city of Seoul and conducted by Inotion World Wide. The Fashion Weeks are held in March and October in South Korea, and are followed by shows in New York City, Paris, London and Milan. The event is marked with inclusivity and diversity, combining high fashion with street style.{{cite web|url=https://rove.me/to/seoul/seoul-fashion-week|title=Seoul Fashion Week|date=10 January 2023 }} The Seoul Fashion Week is split into three parts:{{cite news|last=Woo-young|first=Lee|title=Seoul Fashion Week begins next week|url=http://khnews.kheraldm.com/view.php?ud=20130320000695&md=20130323004634_AR|access-date=1 June 2013|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=20 March 2013}}

1. The Seoul Collection: A high-end Korean fashion event. The collection is among some of the biggest in Korean fashion.
2. Generation Next is an upcoming fashion design program for Korean designers. It concentrates on designers with fewer than 5 years of experience. Unique appearance and creative thinking are emphasized in this section.
3. The Seoul Fashion Fair is an exhibition showcasing Korean fashion companies. Its mission is to grow Korean fashion companies by helping to build business partnerships to compete in the global fashion market. It is easy for companies to get a spot at the fair.

The Korea Fashion Design Contest looks for fresh and rising design talent in Korea. This contest began in 1983, and it has been supported by the Korean government since 2004 for its promotion of new designers.{{cite news|first=진오|last=왕|title=제31회 대한민국패션대전 개최|url=http://weekly2.cnbnews.com/category/read.html?bcode=13955|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615213536/http://weekly2.cnbnews.com/category/read.html?bcode=13955|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|access-date=1 June 2013|newspaper=cnb-journal|date=28 May 2013}} The contest aims to:

1. Find promising new Korean designers.
2. Provide strategic and systematic mentoring, advertising and marketing support to these designers.
3. Showcase Korean fashion on an international scale, to show the world that Korean fashion is a high-value industry.{{cite news|first=채연|last=이|title=패션협회, 대한민국패션대전 개최(KFA(Korea Fashion Association), Korea fashion contest's objectives)|url=http://www.apparelnews.co.kr/naver/view.php?iid=46831|access-date=13 June 2013|newspaper=어패럴 뉴스(apparelnews)|date=29 May 2013}}

Korea Style Week was an exhibition at COEX in Korea in 2013.{{cite news|last=sehee |title='2013 코리아스타일위크' 눈길 |url=http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/economy/1133018.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615213652/http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/economy/1133018.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=1 June 2013 |newspaper=bizfocus |date=24 January 2013 }} It combined a fashion show format with that of a fair for the first time in Korea. This was done to make it easy to find new designers and fashion online. Korea Style Week was an opportunity for companies to introduce the public to their products. This was done by creating events like styling classes, runways, flea markets, etc.

The K-Collection was last held on 11 March 2012, at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul.{{cite web|last=Aisa de la Cruz|title=K-Pop: K-Collection ( K컬렉션) in Seoul Fashion Concert|url=http://wearandconquer.blogspot.kr/2012/03/k-pop-k-collection-k-in-seoul-fashion.html|work=Blog|date=14 March 2012 |access-date=1 June 2013}} The event was hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization, and featured performances by K-Pop artists such as MBLAQ, Infinite, Big Bang, IU, Girls’ Generation, and Miss A. The fashion show featured (among others) collections by 2PLACEBO, 8seconds, Kappa, and Skin Food.

2NE1 introduced high-end fashion labels such as Givenchy and Balmain to the Korean audience. According to Harper's Bazaar, "Korean style is a mix of streetwear and luxury".{{cite magazine |last1=Kosin |first1=Julie |title=The Beginner's Guide to K-pop |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/a10772/k-pop-for-beginners/ |magazine=Harper's BAZAAR |publisher=Hearst Fashion and Luxury Collection |access-date=10 November 2018 |ref=34 |date=4 May 2015}} They further highlight that the trend is combining European brands and streetwear brands together.

Lisa and Rose, members of the popular girl group Blackpink, were featured on the September issue of Dazed Korea.{{Citation|title=Dazed Korea: Roses are Rosé| date=11 October 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqitJ5hN4pU|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}} Their ensemble was created from pieces from Mulberry's 2018 Fall/Winter collection. In addition, they sat in the front row at this year's Mulberry Show in Seoul. The objective of Johnny Coca, the creative director of the major British fashion house, was not only to make Mulberry a prominent brand in the UK but also to garner international recognition in places such as South Korea. In an article by Vogue, Coca states that "Korea was the second (biggest) country in terms of revenue so it was important to be part of that expansion and to communicate more about the brand and its heritage to the Korean customer".{{cite web |last1=Casely-Hayford |first1=Alice |title=Mulberry Kicks Off International Expansion With Show And Pop-Up in Seoul |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/mulberry-aw18-collection-seoul |website=Vogue |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=10 November 2018 |ref=35}}

Another famous British fashion house, Burberry, was featured by Mino and Hoony, two members of the popular K-pop group Winner. They were dressed in the Burberry Spring/Summer 2018 collection for the brand's show. Furthermore, they received early access to the Spring 2018 collection as soon as they landed in England. According to an article in Vogue, "The two wore full looks while enjoying their time around London, sharing multiple images of themselves in pieces that are sure to be among the seasons most coveted. While sharing snapshots of tartan tote bags and classic trenches, the pair also managed to squeeze in a little sightseeing..."{{cite web |last1=Okwodu |first1=Janelle |title=How Mino and Hoony of K-Pop Band Winner Won Burberry's Front Row |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/winner-mino-hoony-at-burberry-spring-2018-fashion-show |website=Vogue |date=16 September 2017 |access-date=10 November 2018 |ref=36}}

File:Hanbok (female and male).jpg|Hanbok, traditional Korean-styled clothes

File:Korea-Busan-Beomeosa-04.jpg|Hanbok

• Miss Supertalent Fashion Week
• List of Korean clothing
• Shopping in Seoul
• André Kim
• E-Land Group
• List of Korean online fashion retailers

• [https://dprk360.com/inside-north-korea/12th-pyongyang-fashion-exhibition/38/ A rare look at North Korean fashion]

{{Reflist}}

{{Fashion}}

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Category:South Korean clothing

Category:South Korean design