all photos by Kwai Chan
Korean fashion design has slowly made an inroad into New York, and it
all started with the Concept Korea designer collectives that began four
seasons ago. Some designers from past seasons, such as Son Jung Wan
and Parkchoonmoo, now have solo shows as part of the official Fall 2012
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week schedule. Others are veterans of other
Fashion Weeks around the world, such as the duo of Steve J. and Yoni P.
who showed at the London Spring 2010 collections.
For its fourth edition, Concept Korea featured the following designers
in a presentation style: Son Jung Wan (who also held her second New York
solo runway show later in the week), Lie Sang Bong, Steve J. and Yoni
P., Doho, and Resurrection by Juyoung. Although an understandably mixed
bag in terms of aesthetics and styling with five very different design
sensibilities, the collective represented South Korea’s continuing
evolution in the world of fashion. Lie Sang Bong used psychedelic
shimmering neon space age cuts inspired by traditional Korean fashion,
with killer matching fan clutches. Doho chose a more ethereal route,
with asymmetrical layered piles of tulle and other fabrics dominating.
Juyoung presented the only men’s collection of the five, combining color
with semi-formal dress shirts. Son Jung Wan chose to exhibit some
additional looks that were not a part of her solo runway show; her
commercially appealing womenswear is much better suited to this
presentation format than on the catwalk. Finally, Steve J. and Yoni P.
channeled the ‘70s with their capsule collection, with flower power
prints and tie-dyed dresses. – - © Story By Yuan-Kwan Chan
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