Kye
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.
Photo: Instagram
Tibaeg
Designer Eunae Cho launched tibaeg with eight years of experience working at big commercial Korean brands. Inspired by Cho’s love for
tea, tibaeg’s philosophy is to create designs that harmonise and bring joy to the wearer, just as a tea bag infuses water with its rich flavours. Since the brand’s launch in 2011, it has collaborated with Disney and expanded internationally. Stocked at SocietyA, Robinsons The Heeren and Ps. thirtyfour, the colourful designs are sure to delight you with their delicate details.
Style Nanda
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.
Photo: Instagram
HyeinSeo
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.
Photo: Instagram
L.I.E
L.I.E is the brainchild of
Lee Chung Chung, whose parents founded one of Korea’s most prominent fashion brands, Lie Sangbong. Since his debut spring/summer 2013 collection, Lee has mixed unique fabrics with modern silhouettes for his own spin on everyday luxury. High-waisted trousers, ruffled blouses and tailored coats reflect L.I.E’s feminine-athleisure aesthetic, which can be traced back to Lee’s background in menswear. L.I.E is available at Robinsons, TANGS and Takashimaya D.S.
Leesle
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.
Photo: Instagram
Lucky Chouette
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.
Photo: Instagram
D.GNAK
Expect avant-garde tailored separates and innovative silhouettes inspired by traditional Korean menswear from D.GNAK. Launched in 2008 by Kang Dong Jun, who graduated from Parsons School of Design and has presented shows at Milan and London Men’s Fashion Week, D.GNAK (which is formed from the mirrored reflection of Kang’s name) combines classic design with geometric detailing. This is a brand for the modern man who likes disrupting the norm and experimenting with progressive fashion.
Minju Kim
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.
Photo: Instagram
Fleamadonna
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.
Photo: Instagram
Greedilous
Greedilous is known for its vibrant graphics and bright colours—elements that trace back to founder YounHee Park’s background and personality. The bubbly designer studied industrial design before deciding to pursue fashion shortly after, creating glamorous, feminine clothes for the woman looking to make a statement—think Beyoncé and Girls’ Generation, all of whom have worn her clothes. From the creation of its digital prints to the sewing by artisans, each piece of clothing is 100 percent made in Korea.
Goenj
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.
Photo: Instagram
Kimhekim
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.
Photo: Instagram
D-Antidote
Helmed by Hwan Sung Park, a Central Saint Martins graduate who worked at Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Tom Ford; D-Antidote is a label for cool kids. With streetwear and athleisure influences, the menswear label’s gender-fluid style is popular with K-pop starlets like IU and Girls Day. Its successful spring/summer 2018 collaboration with Fila continues into fall/winter 2018, this time with statement t-shirts, bomber jackets and trackpants. Stocked in stores like Barneys New York and Selfridges, you can find D-Antidote at Robinsons and Sects here in Singapore.
Tell The Truth
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.
Photo: Instagram
SJYP
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.
Photo: Instagram
