Seoul Fashion Week Embraces Innovation and Sustainability with Cutting-Edge Collaborations
Jason Yim / Published September 1, 2024 09:56 PM
Jason Yim
NewJeans, Courtesy of Seoul City
Seoul Fashion Week, one of the most anticipated events in the fashion industry, has kicked off its spring-summer 2025 edition with a strong focus on sustainability and technological innovation. The five-day event, held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, showcases the latest collections from 21 prominent brands, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices in fashion.
Among the standout participants is designer Park So-young, the creative force behind the brand Julycolumn. Park, who gained attention for opening the fall-winter 2024 show earlier this year, returns to the runway with a collection that features materials made from recycled plastic bottles. These eco-friendly fabrics are produced in collaboration with Jeju Samdasoo, a bottled water brand supported by Jeju City. This partnership is part of a broader initiative led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which has teamed up with six companies to promote sustainable fashion practices during the event.
Kwak Hyun Joo Collection at the fall-winter 2024 Seoul Fashion Week at DDP, Courtesy of Seoul City
Another noteworthy designer, Im Seon-oc of the brand Partsparts, is pushing the boundaries of eco-conscious fashion by committing to a “zero waste” approach. Im, known for her innovative use of neoprene, is not only showcasing her latest collection on the runway but also hosting a separate exhibition at DDP dedicated to this concept. In an effort to engage the public directly, Partsparts is offering a hands-on experience where attendees can create their own canvas tote bags from fabric scraps. This event, taking place over two days starting Friday, has been made available to those who pre-registered via the brand's official Instagram.
The emphasis on sustainability extends beyond the runway. On Wednesday, representatives from Hyosung TNC, a leading producer of eco-friendly materials, will hold a special session to introduce their latest textile product, "Regen," which is crafted from ocean and plastic waste. This session is expected to draw interest from some of the 120 buyers and industry experts attending the fashion week, showcasing the growing demand for environmentally responsible materials in the fashion industry.
LIE’s Lee Chung Chung (R) and a model in a wheelchair wave at the fall-winter 2024 Seoul Fashion Week at DDP, Courtesy of Seoul City
Innovation is also at the forefront of this year’s Seoul Fashion Week, with a historic collaboration between fashion and technology. For the first time since the event’s inception in 2000, a partnership between a fashion brand and an electronics manufacturer will be featured, potentially setting the stage for future commercial success. Lee Chung-chung, the designer behind the brand LIE, will close the event on Saturday with a groundbreaking show that incorporates stretchable display panels into his designs. These panels, which can be stretched, folded, and crumpled, represent a new frontier in wearable technology.
“Neo-Craftsmanship is the theme this year,” Lee shared with The Korea Herald. “The stretchable panels offer a new way to express individuality, and my spring-summer collection aims to redefine craftsmanship by integrating these innovative elements,” he added. This project, a collaboration with LG Display, is part of a government-funded initiative to develop core technologies with applications across various industries, including emergency services and the military.
Adding star power to the event, K-pop sensation NewJeans, serving as ambassadors for Seoul Fashion Week this season, made a special appearance on Tuesday morning, drawing significant media attention and further elevating the event’s profile.
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
NewJeans, Courtesy of Seoul City
Seoul Fashion Week, one of the most anticipated events in the fashion industry, has kicked off its spring-summer 2025 edition with a strong focus on sustainability and technological innovation. The five-day event, held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, showcases the latest collections from 21 prominent brands, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices in fashion.
Among the standout participants is designer Park So-young, the creative force behind the brand Julycolumn. Park, who gained attention for opening the fall-winter 2024 show earlier this year, returns to the runway with a collection that features materials made from recycled plastic bottles. These eco-friendly fabrics are produced in collaboration with Jeju Samdasoo, a bottled water brand supported by Jeju City. This partnership is part of a broader initiative led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which has teamed up with six companies to promote sustainable fashion practices during the event.
Kwak Hyun Joo Collection at the fall-winter 2024 Seoul Fashion Week at DDP, Courtesy of Seoul City
Another noteworthy designer, Im Seon-oc of the brand Partsparts, is pushing the boundaries of eco-conscious fashion by committing to a “zero waste” approach. Im, known for her innovative use of neoprene, is not only showcasing her latest collection on the runway but also hosting a separate exhibition at DDP dedicated to this concept. In an effort to engage the public directly, Partsparts is offering a hands-on experience where attendees can create their own canvas tote bags from fabric scraps. This event, taking place over two days starting Friday, has been made available to those who pre-registered via the brand's official Instagram.
The emphasis on sustainability extends beyond the runway. On Wednesday, representatives from Hyosung TNC, a leading producer of eco-friendly materials, will hold a special session to introduce their latest textile product, "Regen," which is crafted from ocean and plastic waste. This session is expected to draw interest from some of the 120 buyers and industry experts attending the fashion week, showcasing the growing demand for environmentally responsible materials in the fashion industry.
LIE’s Lee Chung Chung (R) and a model in a wheelchair wave at the fall-winter 2024 Seoul Fashion Week at DDP, Courtesy of Seoul City
Innovation is also at the forefront of this year’s Seoul Fashion Week, with a historic collaboration between fashion and technology. For the first time since the event’s inception in 2000, a partnership between a fashion brand and an electronics manufacturer will be featured, potentially setting the stage for future commercial success. Lee Chung-chung, the designer behind the brand LIE, will close the event on Saturday with a groundbreaking show that incorporates stretchable display panels into his designs. These panels, which can be stretched, folded, and crumpled, represent a new frontier in wearable technology.
“Neo-Craftsmanship is the theme this year,” Lee shared with The Korea Herald. “The stretchable panels offer a new way to express individuality, and my spring-summer collection aims to redefine craftsmanship by integrating these innovative elements,” he added. This project, a collaboration with LG Display, is part of a government-funded initiative to develop core technologies with applications across various industries, including emergency services and the military.
Adding star power to the event, K-pop sensation NewJeans, serving as ambassadors for Seoul Fashion Week this season, made a special appearance on Tuesday morning, drawing significant media attention and further elevating the event’s profile.
