Stylish And Affordable Korean Fashion Brands You Ought To Know
With this edit, you’ll find some affordable labels that are popular with your favourite Korean celebrities. Whether your style is girly, elegant or androgynous, there’s a wide array of options from these cool brands and young designers that you’ll fall in love with.
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The it girl of the moment, Korean-American Kathleen Hanhee Kye graduated with a masters in menswear from Central Saint Martins in 2011, and set up Kye that same year. “Kye is all about casual wear, fun, a bit rude, it’s unisex, but more focused on women,” Kye has said. The designer who has collaborated with popular brands like Gentle Monster, Adidas and shu uemura, is also friends with Irene Kim, Big Bang and C.L.
You’ve definitely seen Instagram posts of this brand’s pink pool cafe in the hip Myeongdong district of Seoul. Super-trendy Style Nanda got its start in 2004 as a blogshop and has expanded internationally. It’s known for offering the latest designs at affordable prices.
If you like urban sportswear, bomber jackets, grunge and layering, you’ll love the aesthetic of South Korean designer Hyein Seo, a graduate of Antwerp’s prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
A traditional garment made modern and wearable. The hanbok is what inspires the designs of Korean fashion designer Leesle Hwang, who launched the brand in 2007.
“The soft contemporary brand tibaeg expresses tender emotions through multifarious colorful graphics. The way a tea bag infuses its rich flavors into water, ‘tibaeg’ will release the colors within you.” That’s the philosophy of this brand that wants fashion to bring joy to your life.
Launched by celebrity designer Kim Jae-hyun, Lucky Chouette is for the modern woman who loves her prints and colours. Whether it’s for work or the weekend, you’ll find versatile separates that you can mix and match.
The winner of the 2013 H&M Design Award and Semi-Finalist of the LVMH Prize For Young Fashion Designers in 2014, Minju Kim’s collections always feature self-drawn illustrations, whimsical prints and avant-garde silhouettes.
The South Korean brand is for the woman who marches to her own beat. Worn by international celebrities such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Kourtney Kardashian, the designs are kitsch and guaranteed to make a statement.
Launched in 2012 when Goen Jong returned home after graduating from Paris’ prestigious Studio Berçot, this eponymous label focuses on wardrobe basics with a modern yet romantic aesthetic with mixed textures and asymmetrical silhouettes.
After graduating from Studio Berçot and working at Balenciaga, Kiminte Kimhekim launched his label in 2014. He combines traditional Korean sewing techniques (passed on to him by his grandmother) with methods of French haute couture, to create beautiful and elegant tailored pieces.
Tell the Truth made its runway debut at this year Seoul Fashion Week. “I started the brand to make pieces one can wear for a long time,” said designer Kim Sung-eun. These elevated basics are a hit with celebrities like Suzy and Kong Hyo jin.
SJYP is the brainchild of Korean-born husband and wife duo, Steve Jung and Yoni Pai. The Central Saint Martins alumni put their spin on denim and have effortlessly nailed cool streetwear vibes.
Text: Debby Kwong