A highlight of Seoul Fashion Weeks past, Minju Kim left and found success on her own terms by winning Netflix’s Next in Fashion, which earned her a devoted following. Rather than return to the runway, she is focused on the opening of her first store in Gahoe-dong, which should debut with the beautiful “Fairy’s Wish” of spring 2023: The designer’s vision of a fairy, bearing the promise of spring, appearing as voluminous white puff-sleeved dresses and gauzy black gowns printed with Minju’s hand-drawings of dried flowers.
Culturally, Korea is often criticized for lacking individuality—so it follows that the best young designers are keen on walking their own paths. According to Juntae Kim, “there are many emerging creative designers in Korea, but these people at the present are working independently for the most part and there is a lack of mediums to bring them together.” Though that independence is beautiful, most agree that a strong community would help each of them thrive together and apart. “Not only fashion,” Kim adds, “it would be great if there was one place for everyone to gather, for Korean artists from different fields to come together and meet and share ideas.” It sounds simple enough. Perhaps this is the next form that Seoul Fashion Week should take.
