High temperatures are reaching their peak this August.
The heat wave and humid tropical nights can cause some difficulties to people trying to maintain their daily routine. Take a look around, however, and there are a few items that can help overcome the summer heat.

One such item are so-called “refrigerator clothes,” loudly-patterned, loose-fitting baggy pants and dresses. They're made from polyester, artificial silk or rayon, all of which are air-permeable and which don't cling to sweat or skin. They're light and soft, making people feel cooler in the humid summer. For this reason, these articles of clothing are dubbed with special adjectives such as “refrigerator” or “ice.”

It is not clear who began to make such clothes. Refrigerator pants began winning popularity about two or three years ago. From traditional markets to underground strip malls, we can find all sorts of clothes made from “cooling materials” these days. In 2013 when photos of President Park Geun-hye emerged of her on summer vacation wearing a refrigerator skirt, it caught the public's attention.





As for refrigerator pants in particular, even CNN has covered the story. In 2013, CNN called refrigerator pants a “cool fashion trend” for women to beat the summer heat. It reported on the popularity of the baggy pants, mentioning the rise in sales at leading online shopping sites during the summer months.



Apart from pants, there are also various types of refrigerator clothes, ranging from one-piece dresses and cardigans, to T-shirts and even underwear. All are different in design, pattern, length and body shape. Anyone can wear them, regardless of age, sex or size. One pair of refrigerator pants might be good for working outside. Another might be worn when going to the office or even playing golf.

Most of these clothes are affordable and easy to maintain. Many items are priced under KRW 10,000 in traditional markets or in shopping districts such as Myeong-dong or Dongdaemun Market, or at online retailers. They can be either hand- or machine-washed. Finally, as they're made from light material, they dry quickly and don't get easily wrinkled.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News, Facebook of President Park Geun-hye
arete@korea.kr