Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Catwalks make way for Seoul Fashion Week



All eyes of the local fashion industry will be on the annual six-day Seoul Fashion Week, which starts Oct. 17 for an elaborate display of Korea’s best fall/winter 2012 collection at the Seoul Trade Exhibition Center (SETEC) in Daechi-dong, southern Seoul.




The 23rd Seoul Fashion Week will be composed of new looks from emerging and veteran designers in four categories — the Seoul Collection, Fashion Take-off, Generation Next and Fashion Fair.

“As part of the fast-growing ‘hallyu’ industry, Korean fashion is gaining more popularity abroad,” said Taylor Yoon, PR director for the Seoul Fashion Week. “We are seeing more overseas buyers interested in local designers.”

A new segment this year is the “W Beauty & Fashion Week,” organized by the fashion magazine W. Many household names in cosmetics and hair products, like Aveda, Benefit, Laura Mercier, Nars and more, will hold promotional events during the fashion week.




Seoul Collection

The Seoul Collection is the highlight of the biggest Korean fashion event.

A total of 27 collections will be presented, including the collections of 23 top star designers, two “prestige designers” that have significantly contributed to the Korean fashion industry and two “national Korean brands.”

An Yoon-jung and Choi Bo-ko were chosen as the “prestige designers” this year.

An specializes in luxury suits of comfort and minimal lines, catering to the needs of professional women. Choi’s designs are marked by strong, vivid colors and geometric patterns to expresses ethnic fantasy.

Jung Ku-ho and Han Sang-hyuk are the two artists for the “National brand fashion show” to be held on Oct. 17 and 21.
Jung is the creative director of HEXA BY KUHO, which recently concluded a successful show in New York.

Veteran designer Gee Chun-hee will present a show on the opening day with a theme “Silhouette of the Wind.” Gee’s basic philosophy is rooted in bringing out the femininity of every woman with minimal decorations.

Fashion Take-off

First introduced in the previous Seoul Fashion Week, the “Fashion Take-Off” is a professional buying show centered on the works of 10 emerging designers who seek to advance into the global market.

“The Fashion Take-off received enthusiastic reviews from buyers last year. So we organized it again this year,” Yoon said.
One of the interesting shows will be created by Lee Hyun-chan under the theme “Restaurant and Chef,” inspired by a conversation in Italy the designer had with a chef who seemed to go about his job with sheer joy.

Choi Ji-hyoung, creative director of fashion label Johnny Hates Jazz (JHZ), will introduce and launch her new line of clothing and accessories “JiChoi.” The theme of JiChoi 2012 Collection is her recreation of bold and vivid graphic prints of the 1910s Art Deco Movement and marine look.

Generation Next

This is a program for fostering new designers. This year, new outstanding designers will introduce their works in a creative and sensual show.

One of the young artists is Song Yu-jin, creative director of s=yz, who will give a show on Oct. 20.

The budding designer focuses on versatile everyday-wear pieces that espouse effortless sophistication alongside a spark of youthful individuality.

Her theme here will be “Mermaid escaping from the sea,” expressing the concept of a modern woman letting go of life on the land and returning to nature.

Fashion Fair

A total of 69 companies in clothing, shoes, bags and accessories will hold exhibitions throughout the six-day fashion week at the SETEC.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.seoulfashionweek.org.

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