Korean trend, magnificence and music have formed the cultural zeitgeist at an unprecedented scale in recent times, from Netflix viewing habits to the worldwide success of the animated fantasy musical Ok-Pop Demon Hunters, to new runway aesthetics and popularised magnificence routines.
Nonetheless, the “Ok-wave” motion started within the late Nineteen Nineties — when Korean music, TV dramas, movie, trend, magnificence, meals and extra rose in recognition in international locations resembling China, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. A second wave within the 2010s reached even additional, pushed by the success of Korean pop music, or Ok-pop, and teams like BTS, Black Pink and Ladies’ Technology.
The Korea Inventive Content material Company (KOCCA) seeks to additional propel this momentum, as inventive industries and their customers embrace Korean tradition at massive. A state-run physique, KOCCA is charged with remodeling the nation’s manufacturers and artistic companies into dominant, world gamers throughout trend, broadcasting, gaming, music and extra.
As part of its work, KOCCA supplies funded programmes and worldwide collaborations to help rising trend designers with the publicity and assist essential to compete within the world market. Its initiatives look like working: manufacturers throughout the programme that participated at Paris Style Week final September have carried out over 350 conferences with worldwide consumers since.
Idea Korea, which was based in 2010, is a part of a nationwide technique backed by KOCCA to offer rising and established Korean designers with the monetary and manufacturing assist to current at world showcases, resembling in Paris and New York.
In Paris, Idea Korea introduced a standalone present for Korean-born, France-based label Kimhēkim. The luxurious model was based in 2016 by Kiminte Kimhēkim, who educated in Paris earlier than turning into a member of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. In the meantime, Bonbom — which was based in 2020 by designer BonBom Jo with a subversive and streetwear-inspired method to luxurious items — introduced alongside Re Rhee, a womenswear model based in 2010 by Central Saint Martins-trained Junebok Rhee.
To study extra about how KOCCA helps each rising and established Korean trend labels of their methods for world success, The Enterprise of Style sits down with the founders of Kimhēkim, Bonbom and Re Rhee to study extra.
Kimhēkim by Kiminte Kimhēkim
What are the most important challenges and alternatives going through rising Korean trend labels at this time?
Proximity proves to be a problem. Native designers typically have to journey lengthy distances to current their collections and join with world audiences. Whereas this may be demanding, the method itself might be inspiring. The publicity to totally different locations, cultures and views fuels creativity and broadens our imaginative and prescient.
Korean trend is gaining unprecedented consideration worldwide, and with the rising curiosity in Korean tradition as a complete, new doorways are opening for collaboration, visibility and cultural alternate.
How has KOCCA’s assist and initiatives contributed to your worldwide enlargement?
KOCCA has lengthy supported Korean designers and fostered the expansion of native inventive expertise, which we’ve admired for years.
KOCCA has served as a invaluable bridge, connecting us with the manufacturing group Eyesight and enabling us to naturally combine Korean tradition into our model. In addition they facilitated significant collaborations with influential artists and platforms resembling Dazed Korea and [K-popstar] Somi, serving to us develop our inventive attain each regionally and globally.
How do you have a good time Korean tradition whereas creating collections that resonate with world markets?
Proper now, there’s a rising wave of world enthusiasm for Korean tradition. I really feel lucky to be a part of this motion, contributing in my very own approach whereas staying rooted within the traditions that encourage me.
My grandmother taught me sew conventional Korean clothes once I was seven — and that early expertise has stayed with me. My deep appreciation for Korean crafts and ornamental arts continues to form my collections in a pure and significant approach.
I concentrate on expressing this id in a approach that feels related to at this time’s viewers, with out dropping its authenticity.
Re Rhee by Junebok Rhee
What are the most important challenges and alternatives going through Korean trend labels at this time?
The important thing problem is reaching differentiation in world markets whereas balancing industrial efficiency with model id. Preserving a novel standpoint is tough with quick development cycles, so we separated the gathering line from the overall line, giving consumers and prospects a broader vary that serves all wants.
In the meantime, the evolution of social platforms and commerce channels accelerates conversion from offline experiences — resembling journeys to Korea and flagship visits — into purchases. On this atmosphere, Korean labels can develop sooner and at a higher scale.
The worldwide rise of Ok-culture is greater than a development: it’s the result of a symbiotic cultural ecosystem. Streaming and social media have lowered worldwide boundaries, enabling Ok-content to floor concurrently throughout platforms.
What’s the mission and imaginative and prescient of your model?
We place nice emphasis on motion and construction when designing garments. We prioritise tactile qualities over purely visible ones, exploring how the designer’s perspective and philosophy are woven by means of each contact and sight.
How has KOCCA’s assist and initiatives contributed to your worldwide enlargement?
Our participation in Paris Style Week — which was spearheaded by Idea Korea — was pivotal in quickly increasing our community of world consumers and press. We appeared on official invites and press lists, which helped validate Re Rhee. This recognition elevated response charges to pre-show outreach and boosted confirmed conferences.
By sharing line sheets and a preview lookbook prematurely, we secured focused appointments and strengthened our credibility for getting into world markets. This, in flip, enabled us to construct a steady abroad order pipeline by means of commerce exhibits and showroom operations.
Bonbom by BonBom Jo
What are the most important challenges and alternatives going through Korean trend labels at this time?
With the continuing Ok-wave, Ok-fashion has gained vital consideration — creating an thrilling alternative for manufacturers like ours. Nonetheless, as many Korean trend manufacturers are rising concurrently, it has grow to be much more essential to face out and have a definite id.
Coming into world markets comes with challenges resembling speaking the depth of a Korean model’s philosophy past tendencies, sustaining sustainable manufacturing and adapting to totally different market techniques and timelines.
How has KOCCA’s assist and initiatives contributed to your worldwide enlargement?
KOCCA understands the realities that trend manufacturers face and supplies sensible, grounded assist by means of its programmes. For instance, they assist cowl important prices concerned in becoming a member of world showrooms — resembling airfare, logistics and showroom entrance charges — in addition to the bills for pattern manufacturing.
Via initiatives like Idea Korea, KOCCA gives alternatives to showcase collections to worldwide audiences, and supplies assist, which has been invaluable for Bonbom. It permits us to current our model to a broader world cohort whereas easing the monetary burdens that usually include needed investments for a rising label.
With KOCCA’s assist, Bonbom efficiently held its first present throughout Paris Style Week. This milestone allowed us to introduce our imaginative and prescient to a brand new viewers and construct significant relationships with worldwide consumers, press and trade professionals.
How do you have a good time your Korean tradition whereas creating collections that resonate with world markets?
Every assortment is rooted in private experiences, drawing on recollections from faculty days — a pivotal time when Western clothes types started filtering into each day life — whereas sustaining a distinctly Korean sensibility and an consciousness of how others perceived this cultural shift.
This private and introspective viewpoint typically resonates with worldwide consumers and press — it conveys one thing common by means of a distinctly Korean lens.
It is a sponsored characteristic paid for by Idea Korea as a part of a BoF partnership.
