Korean 360Fashion

Seoul Fashion Week F/W 09를 취재하던 어느날 북경에서 전화 한통을 받았다. 360fashion.net의 중국 디렉터인 Anina가 Beijing Fashion Week에 참가한 한국인 디자이너 유지영씨의 쇼를 본 후 그녀의 브랜드에 반해서 흥분한 목소리로 당장 유지영 디자이너를 인터뷰하라는 지시가 떨어졌다.

그리고 어느 쌀쌀한 토요일 저녁 압구정 도산 공원에 위치한 그녀의 샵을 찾아나섰다. 당당하게 그녀의 이름이 걸려져있는 그녀의 샵 바로 앞에서 잠시 걸음을 멈춰서서 심호습을 한뒤 들어갔을때 그녀의 어씨스턴트가 360fashion.net 게스트 포토그래퍼 Ryan과 나를 맞이한다. 그녀를 잠시기다리는 동안 잠시 그녀의 샵을 둘러보며 쉬크하고 무언가 모던하면서도 유럽적인 로맨틱 느껴지는 분위기를 느꼈다.

 

 

 

잠시후 모델처럼 큰키에 Gorgeous한 디자이너 유지영씨가 나타나 갑자스런 인터뷰 신청에 잠시 놀라면서도 담담하게 모든것을 대처하는 프로패션널한 모습을 보여준다.

그녀의 샵에 위치한 작은 테이블에 자리를 잡고 그녀가 이번 북경 패션위크에 참가시킨 그녀의 또다른 브랜드 grandmother에 대해서 이야기 하기 시작했다.

Korea.360fashion(이하360F): 이번 북경 패션 위크에서 보여주신 브랜드 Grandmother이름 자체 부터가 참 평범하면서도 독특한데 브랜드 이름에 대해서 먼저 설명좀 부탁드릴께요.

유지영디자이너(이하 YJY): 저의 또다른 브랜드 grandmother라는 이름은 제가 할머니가 될때까지 패션 디자인을 하겟노라는 다짐이 담겨져있고 모든 고객들이 할머니가 될때까지도 입을 수 있는 디자인의 상품이라는 뜻에서 지어졌습니다. Grandmother는 중저가의 브랜드이지만 high quality이면서도 우와하고 클래식한 패미니즘을 가지고 있습니다. 그래서 밝은색이나 그린,블루등을 사용하면서 좀 더 러블리한 이미지를 많이 나타내고 있습니다.

360F: 그러면 grandmother는 어떤 대상의 여성들의 위한 디자인가요?

YJY:아까도 말씀드렸듯이 제 옷은 모든 고객들이 할머니가 될때까지 입을 수 있는 디자인의 상품을 만들자는 취재이기 때문에 20대부터 모든 그랜마더들이 저의 디자인의 대상입니다.

360F: 그러면 이러한 디자인들은 어디서 부터 영감을 얻으시나요?

YJY:제가 특정한 어느 것에서 영감을 얻지는 않습니다. 색체는 예전부터 그림전공을 하며 작품을 그리는 가운데 색채감을 많이 알게된 제 경험에서 많이 나오고 특별히 이 브랜드를 어느 트랜드에 연연하지 않고 싶지 않습니다. 단지 개인적으로 중세 유럽시대를 사랑하는데 그 르네상스적 느낌을 현대적으로 표현하고 싶었습니다.

360F:그럼 이번 북경전에서 출품한 디자인들의 패브릭은 어떠한 것들을 이용하셨나요?

YJY: 여성적인 것들을 표현하고 싶었기때문에 가공된 실크와 쉬폰등을 많이 사용했습니다.

360F: 이번 북경전에서 보여주신 grandmother브랜드는 한국적인 디자인인가요?그리고 북경의 중국 여성들이 많이 이 브랜드를 좋아했다고 생각하십니까?

YJY: 아까 말씀드렸으니 grandmother는 어느 특정 트랜드에 연연하지 않기 때문에 굳히 한국적인 디자이너는 아니라고 생각합니다. 개인적으로 앞으로 유럽에 진출할 계획이 있기때문에 글로벌적으로 누구나 다 입을 수 있는 디자인이라고 생각합니다.

360F: 실례가 안된다면 유지영 디자이너님의 개인적인 경력에 대해서 잠시 말씀좀 부탁드립니다.

YJY: Seoul Fashion Week 2002, Tokyo Collection, Hukuoka Collection, Shanghai collection, selected one of 13 designers during Paris Preta Porter

360F:앞으로 유지영 디자이너님의 향후 계획에 대해서 말씀 좀 부탁드려요.

YJY: 우선은 grandmother라는 브랜드도 제가 가지고 있지만 유지영이라는 제 이름으로 된 highquality fashion 브랜드가 파리로 진출할 계획을 하고 있습니다. 그 곳에서 제 이름으로 매장으로 하나 더 가지고 활동을 펼쳐서 세계적인 브랜드로 만드는 것이 제 앞으로의 계획입니다.                      

360F:갑작스러운 인터뷰에 응해주셔서 감사드리고 정성껏 대답에 응해주셔서 다시 한번 더 감사드립니다.

화장기 없는 맨 얼굴에 사진포즈에도 당당하게 응해주는 그녀를 보면서 그녀가 세계에서 알려진 앞으로의 한국 디자이너들의 큰 앞걸음이 될 것이라고 느껴졌다.

 

Interview in English

While reporting on Seoul Fashion Week F/W 09, my phone suddenly began to ring. When I picked up, the caller was none other than 360fashion.net's China director, Anina, who excitedly demanded an interview with Korean designer Yoo Jiyoung. She had immediately fallen head over heels with Yoo Jiyoung, whose collection was featured during Beijing Fashion Week.
 
So on one nippy Saturday evening, 360fashion.netguest photographer Ryan and I searched out Yoo's shop located near Apgu's Dosan Park. After pausing in front of the shop - confidently adorned with the name of her self-titled store - to take a deep breath, I stepped inside and was immediately greeted by Yoo's assistant. As we waited for the designer herself, I browsed the chic shop, noting the aura of modernity yet European romance in the venue.
 
A few moments later, the model-tall and gorgeous designer Yoo Jiyoung revealed herself, seeming a tad surprised at the sudden request for an interview, yet demonstrating true professionalism by taking everything in stride with a cool and collected manner. 
 
We settled ourselves down at a small table and began speaking of her brand "Grandmother," the line she had featured in Beijing Fashion Week.
 
Korea.360fashion.net (henceforth, 360F): The name "Grandmother" of the brand you showcased during Beijing Fashion Week is plain yet unique. What is the meaning behind it?
Yoo Jiyoung (henceforth, YJY): My brand Grandmother represents my determination to not only design fashion until I am a grandmother myself, but also create designs and products that my customers can wear until they themselves become grandmothers. Grandmother is a low- to mid-priced brand, but it is also of high quality, and it is elegant and possesses a sense of classic feminism. To do this, I've used bright colors, greens and blues to present a more lovely image.
 
360F: So then what is the target audience for Grandmother attire?
YJY: As I told you before, since the theme of clothing is to provide designs and products that all my customers can wear until they become grandmothers, my target ranges from anyone in their 20s to grandmothers.
 
360F: Where do you find your inspiration for these types of designs?
YJY: I don't derive my inspiration from any specific source. My selection of colors comes from my experiences working with colors in the past as an art major, and I don't want my brand to be tightly linked to any particular trend. One point is that personally, I am in love with Europe of the Middle Ages, and I want to express that Renaissance feel in a modern way.
 
360F: For the designs in your Beijing showing, then, what kinds of fabrics did you use?
YJY: I wanted to express feminine things, so I used a lot of processed silks and chiffons.

360F: Does the grandmother line, which was featured at Beijing Fashion Week, showcase Korean design? Also do you believe that Chinese women in Beijing enjoyed the brand?
YJY: As I mentioned before, since grandmother does not adhere to any specific trends, I don't believe that it embodies Korean design per se. Personally, since I have plans to launch the brand in Europe, I believe that grandmother shows design that can be worn by anyone globally.
 
360F: If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to ask for some words regarding your designing background and work experience.

YJY: Seoul Fashion Week 2002, Tokyo Collection, Hukuoka Collection, Shanghai collection, selected one of 13 designers during Paris Preta Porter
 
360F: Could I ask you about your future plans?
YJY: First and foremost, I do have the grandmother brand, but a high-quality fashion brand under the name of Yoo Ji-young is also planned for entry into the Paris market. Starting by creating a store there with my name, I plan to continue my efforts to make my brand into a world-renowned brand.
 
360F: I'd like to thank you again for agreeing to the sudden interview, and also for taking such care to answer all of my questions.
 
As I watched Yoo - who, even sans makeup, confidentally complied with a photo request - I could feel that she would become a considerable forerunner for all of Korean designers becoming known and to become known to the world.

 

2009년 5월분 뉴욕 보그지에 소개된 서울 경희궁에 있는 Prada Transformer는 세계적인 명품 브랜드 회사 Prada는 건축가 렘 쿨하스와 OMA,AMO등 유명한 건축회사와 함께 진행하는 공동의 문화 프로젝트이다..트렌스포머라는 이름답게 크레인을 이용하여 구조물이 돌려지고 공중회전하여 4개의 다른 외관형태가 가능하다.

건물안으로 들어가면 프라다의 스커트 작품들과 그외 한국디자이너들의 스커트가 전시되어 있다. 양쪽 벽으로는 패션쇼에서 보여진 현재 전시되어있는 작품과 동일한 사진 프레임들이 하반신만 커트되어 마치 벽으로 걷는 듯한 형태로 진혈되어 있다. 한쪽으로는 각 스커트들을 천장에 매달고 바람을 이용하여 스커트가 마치 살아 움직이듯이 빙글빙글 돌아가고 있다. 그아래로는 거울을 이용하여 치마 속까지 보이게 있으며 그 거울에는 각 스커트들의 디자인 설명이 되어 있어 한 디자인의 스커트마다 세심하게 감상할 수 있게 되어있다.

공작새의 깃털를 모티브로 만든 세심한 디자인의 스커트에는 좀더 디자인을 볼 수 있도록 돋보기가 장치되어 있다. 전체적으로 프라다의 현대적이고 고급스러운 모티브가 느낄수 있도록 세심한 배치가 가장 눈에 들어온다.

이 전시회에 관한 더 자세한 내용은 http://prada-transformer.com/ 를 통해서 알 수 있다   

Not Your Average Tees: TNT Takes Over Seoul

Upon entering the newly-opened Platoon art center in the Cheongdam area of Gangnam-Gu, attendees to the International Tee Tour Exhibition (TNT) were met with an upbeat atmosphere.  T-shirts from over 20 artists hung from
all areas of the wide, open space, music was blasting, and more people were pouring in from the street.  The opening party on May 7 marked the beginning of a series of events for the weekend, so art and fashion enthusiasts from all over Seoul made sure to make it. 

According to one of the collaborators' website (www.oh-logo.com), the T-shirt was the canvas of choice because around 90% of the people in the world own one of these garments.  Since the T-shirt can be found everywhere and it is perhaps the most basic article of clothing, using it to display art seems like a logical decision because it would allow the artwork to be worn and shown all over the world.  The accessibility factor of these art pieces is limited, though, because not many people ever could afford these tees. 

I had the opportunity to talk with several of the artists, as well as the architect of the building.  One artist, Vin (www.rainypraha.com), chose a simple approach to the exhibition.  His shirt simply said, "Hug Kiss Love", and he was giving away free buttons with his logo.  Not a full-time tee maker, Vin is a freelance graphic designer and painter.  Like most of the other artists, he is friends with many of the designers, so he took this

 

opportunity to do something different for fun.

Vin and his design

 

Another artist, Sascha, is part of OH!LOGO (www.oh-logo.com), a design team from Germany.  They had several T-shirts on display, and they took a more serious approach.  Each of their shirts was made of money from a different country.  Sascha explained that they chose countries such as North Korea, Cuba, China, and Zimbabwe because of their unique economic situations.  The shirts were not only visually

 

appealing, but they represented stories about the countries and their currency. 

O!L's shirts

Platoon seems like the perfect gathering place for the international art community in Seoul.  The event was interactive--visitors could silkscreen their own shirts and participate in a game to win a tee--and there were people from many different countries present.  There were also many different artists present, from architects to interior designers, so this allowed them to come together in a common creative space. 

 

Attendees could buy a T-shirt, then choose a design have silkscreened on it.

Because there were so many designers, it allowed for a wide variety of designs.  From the conceptual (O!L) to designs that were simple and fun (Vin), each shirt told its own story and had a unique message.

 

 

 

More information about TNT can be found at: www.tntnt.org

For a list of events and information regarding Platoon visit:  www.kunsthalle.com

 

 

Written By Laura Knight

 

For a show that is held on a Monday, there seemed to be more people than you would expect on a Monday. What comes to my realization is that there are famous celebrities involved in the show. I'm not familiar with Korean idols but I ask people around and it's a comedian?

But that's not that's not the reason why we are here, are we? For a majority of the attendees, it felt like the main reason. When the supposed actor came out, that was the only time the audience cheered.

Similar to Moon Kyoung Lae, it was all about the blazer mixed in with a dress. Unlike Moon, there was little color used. It was only present in small streaks that resembled an arch. These arches were scattered all over the clothing resembling pictures on a kaleidoscope.

Together the long length skirt with the cropped jacket or blazer, resembled either an amish or hippie style. Separately the jacket can work well. It's tailored and well made. The style can match well with any pair of jeans. The skirt on the other hand is a bit too much. The length is too long and the belled shape on the botton reminds us too much from the 70s.

At the end of the show people applauded and cheered, but what was it for the actual clothes or the celebrities wearing it?

The Cho Sungkyong commenced its show with endearing charm: a child, holding balloons of a vast array of colors, walking down the aisle in her own little runway show. Indeed, the designer had declared her vision of the self as a "cheerful little girl immersed in retro emotions." But the child herself was the brilliant reminder to all of the dreams, hopes and limitless imagination of childhood and all its wonders.

Here is a shot that captures youthful, undaunted spirit:

 

The dichotomy in the beginning and ending of love was the main theme of hana.h, Heo Hana's self-named womenswear brand. Throughout the collection, Heo highlighted the sincere, the obscurity, and the transcience of love through whimsical fabrics like chiffon and linen. The blinding white of the entire collection, and simple and voluminous silhouettes depicted the unfettered purity of a vulnerable love affair - while also seeming to denote the ease with which even love so passionate can be soon erased and begun anew with another.

Jaison Couture certainly overdid itself in "maximalist" fashion. While other designers opted for neutrals and darker shades, Jung Heesuk's elegant ensembles were awash with vibrant colors from beginning to end. Key fabrics included muslin, which accented dramatic lines in gowns, and wool silk, which highlighted the luxury of the traditional suit. Together with exuberant accessories, these powerful, voluptuous pieces certainly captured the beauty and romanticism of the natural feminine form.

Everyone prepares in their own way for a fantastic show, from the professionally pampered:

...and the effortlessly fabulous:

...to the self-styled:

...including yours truly and her 360fashion reporting partner!:

Meanwhile, some remained more complacent than others...: