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Tag: K-FASHION

  • Gwangjang Market Reinvented as Seoul’s New K-Fashion Hotspot

    Seoul’s historic Gwangjang Market in Jongno District is rapidly transforming from a traditional food market into a new hotspot for K-fashion and K-beauty.

    As Korea’s first permanent market, Gwangjang has long been a must-visit destination for tourists seeking authentic Korean street food like yukhoe (beef tartare) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes). But in recent years, its atmosphere has shifted dramatically — now, locals joke that visiting famous bakeries and then shopping at brands like Matin Kim or Kodak Apparel has become the new “Gwangjang course.” The market is buzzing again, fueled by young visitors and foreign tourists.

    Today, major fashion and beauty names such as Matin Kim, Setter, Frot of the Room, Kirsh, and Kodak Apparel have opened stores within the market, alongside beauty outlet OFFBEAUTY. According to Daemyung Chemical, the company behind OFFBEAUTY, “We wanted to merge the market’s traditional charm with the youthful energy of K-fashion, expanding our connection with global customers and revitalizing a 100-year-old market.”

    This trend is supported by rising tourist numbers. In the first half of 2024, 8.83 million foreign visitors came to Korea — up 14.6% year-on-year — and around 1.4 million of them visited the Gwangjang area, ranking it 14th nationwide. Industry experts say Gwangjang Market’s mix of affordable rents, textile infrastructure, and tourism growth has reinvented it as “a K-fashion hub where tradition meets trend.”

  • Gen Z’s Loose-Fit Revolution Marks the End of Tight Wear

    The era of leggings—once the face of the global athleisure boom during the COVID-19 years—is coming to a close.

    Once hailed for blurring the line between casualwear and activewear, leggings have rapidly fallen out of favor as Gen Z’s fashion preferences shift toward looser silhouettes. The rise of “relaxed-fit” styles has even hit the spandex industry, the very foundation of the leggings trend.

    Hyosung TNC, the world’s largest spandex manufacturer, has seen its third-quarter profit forecasts slashed repeatedly, with Hana Securities cutting estimates from 79 billion KRW to 59.5 billion KRW. Major Chinese producers are also reporting declining output and profitability. Globally, spandex production expansion is expected to drop from 160,000 tons this year to just 70,000 tons next year—nearly half.

    The cause is clear: plummeting demand for leggings.

    According to retail analytics firm Edited, leggings’ share of the women’s activewear market fell sharply from 46.9% in 2022 to 38.7% last year. As joggers, track pants, and wide-leg trousers dominate wardrobes, the reign of the “tight fit” has ended. Even iconic brand Lululemon has seen its stock price drop nearly 50% this year, while competitors like Alo Yoga and FP Movement are pivoting toward looser, comfort-driven apparel.

    Korean brands are also adapting.

    Andar has strengthened its men’s and training lines, while Mula Wear is diversifying into “swim-leisure” concepts.

    Fashion experts note that MZ—and particularly Gen Z—consumers now value “natural comfort” over “body-conscious style,” signaling the end of leggings as a youth symbol. As The Business of Fashion put it, “After dominating closets for over a decade, leggings have become rare even in gyms.”

  • Park Bo-gum Brings Korean Tradition to Global Landmarks

    The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation announced that actor Park Bo-gum will present a special hanbok pictorial as part of the “2025 Hanbok Wave” project.

    “Hanbok Wave” is an annual initiative where hanbok designers and Hallyu stars collaborate to reinterpret traditional attire in modern styles and present them on the global stage. This year, Park Bo-gum was chosen as the sole model to highlight the elegance of men’s hanbok.

    The pictorial features four designs: a scholar-style hanbok embroidered with hibiscus patterns, a reinterpretation of Goguryeo clothing, designs inspired by the jeogori and cheollik, and a piece expressing vitality through traditional landscape paintings.

    The pictorial video will be screened on Chuseok (October 6) at New York’s Times Square, Milan’s Piazza del Duomo, and Tokyo’s Shinjuku billboards, followed by releases in Paris and Seoul’s Myeongdong.

    Additional photos and interview footage will be shared via the ministry and KCDF’s official SNS, while a printed photo book will be published as a special edition of Harper’s Bazaar Korea on October 10.

  • Discover 25FW Trends at 29CM’s Fashion Week, From Bohemian to Sporty

    Select shop 29CM is hosting 29 Fashion Week from September 15 to 28, presenting the latest Fall/Winter 25 collections.

    The event features new arrivals from over 400 domestic and international brands, including popular designer labels among women in their 20s and 30s such as Mango Many Please, Monoha, Low Classic, Oor, and Umare. Each day, about 60 brands will unveil new products and steady sellers with special benefits.

    Highlights include a New Product Experience Program offering free trials from 100+ brands, as well as an Nth Reorder Collection showcasing seasonal bestsellers at a glance.

    29CM will also present styling proposals reflecting this year’s FW trends, including mocha-mousse looks, bohemian looks, sporty styles, and work-and-formal outfits.

    Shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 50,000 KRW and personalized recommendations. In addition, the 29LIVE broadcast series will be expanded to 10 sessions, streaming real-time introductions of new items from popular brands.