Hanbok-inspired fashion is officially having its moment and is set to stay on the radar well into the end of the year. On September 27th, in the midst of Fashion Weeks, 10 lucky Korean fashion designers alongside the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Craft and Design Foundation came together to present 30 Hanbok-inspired looks in the Korean Cultural Centre based in fashion mecca London. Hanbok fashion refers to Korean traditional dress, which with the help of Yuna Kim, they wish to popularise outside of Korea with this special collection.
Playing both the part of muse and collaborator, Former Olympic Figure skater Yuna Kim, presented the project as the Hallyu Cultural artist as well as a behind-the-scenes participant in the design and development process. 30 looks were created overall, all inspired by the unique characteristics of Yuna Kim and Hanbok fashion, in the hopes of showcasing the charm of hanbok fashion and those who create it to the entire world.
Yuna Kim is a former Olympic Gold medallist who found fame in the figure skating category and has been retired since 2014. She is considered a legend in Korean figure skating and is a globally respected athlete. “Hanbok and Hallyu have been listed as official words in the UK’s Oxford Dictionary and the interest in Korean traditional wear is growing,” said an official from the ministry, which believe with the help of Yuna Kim, they can invigorate business and interest in hanbok that ‘succeed beyond local borders’.
There are a few exciting exhibitions of these looks planned in many different locations. Ten photoshoot images of the collection featuring Yuna Kim are set to appear in Marie Claire France and the fashion event video will be streamable from the V&A’S ‘Hallyu! The Korean wave’ social channel. At the end of this year, a pictorial video will be showcased on an electronic billboard in the middle of Times Square, New York.
Words by Giuliana Zamudio-Lopez
Header image: @vamuseum
