CONCEPT KOREA Pairs the Past with the Future

For the past seventeen seasons the collaborative project Concept Korea has showcased the best in South Korean fashion to the US, and their FW18 presentation at NYFW was no exception. After being wowed by his NYFW debut last fall, IRK Magazine was very excited to see the return of LIE by Chung Chung Lee (son of renowned Seoul fashion designer/house LIE SANGBONG) along with the always-dynamic GREEDILOUS by Younhee Park. We were not alone in our anticipation; Gallery 1 at Spring Studios was packed with many industry VIPs in attendance including: Ty Hunter, Shaun Ross, June Ambrose, Claire Sulmers, Simon Collins and Miss Jay Alexander.

The show opened with 25 looks from GREEDILOUS that combined the feminine lines of Korean fashion with an edgy street style glamour influenced by “the Palace of Versailles and Marie Antoinette.” The collection focused on exciting displays of texture built upon the layering of decedent fur, expressive ruffles, high collars and tulle trim. A notable shift was present as more playful looks carried bright jewel tones of ruby, citrine and emerald, where looks in classic black and white referenced a refined urban sophistication. A favorite piece was look number 5. In monochromatic emeralds, Park paired a graphic rocker tee with a ruffled-mini and matching blazer of crushed velvet leopard, layered with a three-quarter fur coat trimmed in pearls. For Younhee Park, the attention is definitely in the details. With sleek leather gloves, and matching prints found in embellished shoes, clutches and trucker caps, the pairing of haute/trend paid off as the GREEDILOUS FW18 collection embodied a youthful glamour.

LIE’s collection entitled “GLOBAL WARMING; It’s not justICE” contained a more formal message of awareness to “the collapsing unity between humans and nature.” The 25-piece collection was inspired by the “striking image of a wary polar bear stranded on a shrinking iceberg,” and this image is directly reflected in Lee’s vivid use of color and texture. The collection emerged with pallets of icy blues, Payne’s grays and Arctic whites that slowly transitioned into looks of neutrals, warm earth tones and pops of neon. Most exciting was Lee’s use of texture, highlighted in the combination of plaids, vertical pinstripes and ruffled trims, with fur making an appearance throughout. In fact, the collection successfully achieves its message by allowing us to become the polar bear, as seen in coats heavily accented in fluffy fur and hounds tooth wool, with matching knee-high boots that create a sense of descent into the icy tundra. A standout piece was the final look in which a rainbow-colored fur coat and trimmed boots, reminiscent of the north lights, were paired with an ombre violet top and a color-blocked asymmetrical skirt of yellow and plaid. LIE’s FW18 collection achieves a chic and cozy celebration of athleisure style and successfully hints that we too could become the polar bear if we don’t take action now.

All photos courtesy of Dan Lecca.

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