Sustainable Korean Fashion Options that deserve a place in your wardrobe
K-pop has exploded into the fashion scene. Every day, it seems, another South Korean band at the forefront of this genre becomes the brand ambassador, business partner, or even portal to the afterlife for a luxury conglomerate. These K-pop singers, many of whom are members of the most famous female groups in the business, are quickly becoming the industry’s new style icons because of their immense popularity and the extreme sophistication of their sustainable Korean fashion designs.
Sana, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lily are four women who, whenever they make an appearance in Europe, Asia, or the United States, cause a mass frenzy. In addition to their musical abilities, they have become a social media sensation for their distinctive and immaculately put-together sense of style, generally themed with sustainability in mind which has even attracted the attention of major fashion companies in recent times.
K-pop bands have become the undisputed rulers of the fashion industry and the front row during fashion weeks, where they are frequently more anticipated than the designers themselves. Since world trends are moving more towards eco-friendly products, these sustainable Korean Fashion designs caught the eye of high-end brands.
How many high-end brands have reached out to K-pop stars in recent weeks? You can find them if you look hard enough, but in all honesty, there are probably no more than the fingers on one hand. The luxury conglomerates are willing to spare no expense in pursuing the attention of the discerning Generation Z, and their tens of millions of devoted admirers represent a potentially lucrative market. The sustainable fashion market is highly anticipating its growth with the help of these well-positioned Korean Pop stars.
One of Blackpink‘s leading ladies, Rosé, is the new worldwide ambassador for Tiffany & Co., and her connection to the business means she might soon become the face of another internationally known fashion brand. She got a lot of attention sitting in the first row at the Saint Laurent presentation on the first day of Paris Fashion Week. Even though, these high-end brands are quick to fish these Korean stars into making them represent their sustainable fashion designs, it is well known that these aspects only tend to be a part of the market representing the now growing gen z cluster.
Jisoo, a member of Blackpink, is the face of Cartier and Dior, and she has been an enormous hit in the runway displays of both French fashion houses. At the presentation of Dior’s spring/summer 2023 collection at the Tuileries gardens in Paris, the young star virtually single-handedly stole the show with glamorous sustainable Korean fashion designs. Also, as she walked the Prada runway, Sana from the band Twice was a massive hit with Milan’s fashion fans. This excitement for 100% ethical, vegan, and PVC-free sustainable designs will not be over anytime soon.
This past autumn, with the help of Lisa, another member of Blackpink, Bulgari opened its first virtual pop-up — half pop-up shop, part virtual café — in the Zepeto metaverse. These are only a few examples of K-pop’s influence on the sustainable fashion industry. A few days later, in collaboration with the K-pop group Lightsum, Weinsanto launched its first NFT and officially joined the metaverse. Paris Fashion Week saw the debut of eight virtual ensembles designed by Victor Weinsanto for the female band’s eight members. NFTs are sure to fly off the shelves if the success of other products endorsed by K-pop singers is any indication.
Moreover, many fashion designers throughout the globe take inspiration from the unique sense of sustainable Korean fashion style shown by these South Korean singers and dancers. A prime example of this is the widespread reappearance of preppy styles this autumn. Many items worn by the band members, such as pleated skirts, ties, berets, and moccasins, are trending this season. Hence, now-trending Korean fashion brands like Danha, Ki Lee, and Not Ours are allowed to have a chance to grab a slice of the high-end fashion market in terms of sustainability.
