A team of Korea fashion designers hopes to impress the U.S. fashion industry by presenting their fall and winter collections at the Concept Korea F/W 2014 event in New York on February 11.

On the opening stage at The Salon at Lincoln Center, there will be an “Aspire to Inspire” performance consisting of a musical and a fashion show. Seo Yun-mi, a dramatist known for producing “Black Marry Poppins” and “Romance of Their Own,” will direct the musical. Singers Kim Da-hyun and Kim Ho-young will appear in the piece, creating a harmony of different cultures and genres. Over 500 fashion journalists, merchandisers and professionals are expected to attend the event, as are fashion blogger Susie Bubble and Elle magazine editor Jade Frampton.

Ko Tae Yong, Park Youn Soo, Lee Suk Tae and Choi Bo Ko will present their work at the fashion show, part of New York’s Fashion Week. Lee will show off clothes that offer a modern and structural silhouette inspired by grunge fashion. Ko will present his reinterpretation of military uniforms.



“I added preppy colors and witty graphic patterns to create new military looks,” Ko said in an interview with Korea.net. “I also tried to emphasize the elements of hip-hop by using high-top sneakers and hooded shirts.”

This is the second time for Ko to participate in the Concept Korea event, and he said media outlets and merchandisers are paying a lot of attention to the event this year.

“The New York Times’ male fashion director Bruce Pask came by and said, ‘We need to take notes on Korean fashion,’” Ko said.

Lee said Korean fashion is getting a great response from New Yorkers. “Korean fashion is becoming more and more recognized ever since the Concept Korea event has been held here,” he said.

At the Pre Concept Korea event, where young designers are introduced, Kim Seoryong will present his retro-style suits with their oversized silhouette. He said that he tried to add a modern touch by using unique colors and materials.

Kathleen Kye and Kim Hongbum, who are also taking part in the Pre Concept Korea, already showed off their works on February 4 and 6, respectively, in cooperation with select shops. Kye tried to create a multidimensional look by mixing primary colors, such as black, white, blue and red. Kim tried to add an athletic feel to classic outfits and tried to express a sense of modernity.

“I combined traditional and new materials and used metallic accessories to create a futuristic look,” Kim said. “Many fashion outlets, including WWD magazine, have shown an interest in my work.”






For more information, please visit the Concept Korea homepage (www.conceptkorea.org).

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr