The 25th anniversary of Seoul Fashion Week is marked by discussions on the potential and competitiveness of K-Fashion, with key insights from industry leaders on sustainability and global branding.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Seoul Fashion Week, a significant event in the global fashion calendar, celebrated with the Seoul Fashion Forum held on February 5 at DDP Art Hall 2. This year’s forum was a collaboration between WWD Korea and the Seoul Metropolitan Government and focused on the theme “Fashion City Seoul: Potential and Competitiveness of K-Fashion.”

The forum opened with an address from Yong-tae Joo, the deputy mayor for the economy, who outlined Seoul’s ambitious goals to establish a prominent place on the global fashion map. His remarks set a forward-looking tone, detailing the city’s intentions to enhance its role in the global fashion industry.

Among the key highlights of the forum was a conversation featuring James Fallon, the chief content officer of WWD and Fairchild Media Group, and Antonio De Matteis, the chief executive officer of Kiton Group. They discussed the future of luxury fashion and global brand competitiveness, with De Matteis emphasizing Kiton’s dedication to craftsmanship and sustainability. He stated, “Luxury is not just a rare thing. You can’t be a true luxury if you don’t make it yourself,” reflecting the company’s focus on quality that extends beyond just products to embrace employee welfare and customer relations.

De Matteis shared insights into Kiton’s strategic focus on the Asian markets, particularly Seoul and Tokyo, and expressed a commitment to cultivate the next generation of artisans through their own tailoring school. He highlighted the brand’s plans to expand its product offerings, particularly in womenswear, noting that the proportion of women’s clothing now represents 20 percent of its revenues. The goal is to create an equal balance between men’s and women’s lines in the future.

The forum featured a discussion on the commercial potential of K-fashion, led by Gabriele Chung, CEO of Lotte Department Store. He emphasized the transformative impact of social media on K-fashion, particularly among the MZ and Alpha generations, who are born between 1981 and 2012. Chung identified the need for systematic support and marketing strategies to elevate Seoul Fashion Week to a competitive status alongside major international fashion events, stating, “In order for Seoul Fashion Week to stand shoulder to shoulder with major overseas fashion events, it needs systematic support and marketing strategies.”

Chung underscored the importance of active collaboration between Korean designer brands, department stores, and distribution networks to enhance their visibility in overseas markets. He reaffirmed Lotte Department Store’s commitment to assisting promising designer brands in their international expansion efforts, stating that “the growth of the fashion industry will lead to the strengthening of the competitiveness of the Korean distribution industry.”

The forum culminated in a panel featuring fashion and pop culture figures, such as Kwang-ho Shin, chief editor of Vogue Korea, and actor Eun-se Ki. Moderated by So-young Park, the chief editor of WWD Korea, the panel examined the interplay between K-fashion and the broader K-culture phenomenon. The discussion highlighted the role of K-fashion as a cultural export and the potential of narrative storytelling through design in augmenting its global appeal.

Overall, participants recognized the necessity for innovative perspectives that meld traditional Korean aesthetics with modern design sensibilities to foster K-fashion’s growth on the international stage. They collectively acknowledged the need for enhanced support from government and industry stakeholders to nurture emerging talent and solidify Seoul’s status as a dynamic leader in the global fashion arena.

With ongoing developments and insights shared during the Seoul Fashion Forum, the strategies discussed are aimed at furthering the reach of Korean fashion, positioning Seoul not merely as a follower of global trends, but as a prominent trendsetter in its own right.

Source: Noah Wire Services