The Korea Herald

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Concept Korea show in New York explores Korean identity

Four designers share the runway, showing off distinctive personalities

By Lee Woo-young

Published : Sept. 10, 2013 - 20:41

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From left: Fashion designers Lee Suk-tae, Choi Bo Ko, Park Youn-soo and Ko Tae-yong appear on the runway following the Concept Korea S/S 2014 fashion show at The Stage at the Lincoln Center, New York, Monday. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) From left: Fashion designers Lee Suk-tae, Choi Bo Ko, Park Youn-soo and Ko Tae-yong appear on the runway following the Concept Korea S/S 2014 fashion show at The Stage at the Lincoln Center, New York, Monday. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
The Concept Korea fashion show presented a unique mix of four different Korean designers during New York Fashion Week on Monday.

Under the theme of “4cus on Ma Dang” ― Ma Dang meaning courtyard in Korean and here referring to sharing the stage ― the annual fashion event presented a show that reflected both the distinctive personalities of four designers and a balanced mix of different styles on the runway at The Stage at Lincoln Center.

The four designers, Lee Suk-tae (Kaal E. Suktae), Choi Bo Ko (Choiboko), Park Youn-soo (Big Park) and Ko Tae-yong (Beyond Closet), captured the eyes of more than 800 spectators gathered for the Korean fashion event.

The Kaal E. Suktae collection presented structural pieces in clean white that featured geometrical patterns, while Choiboko brought on a fresh take on the use of animal prints in black-and-white long coats and dresses featuring large, colorful drawings of animals reminiscent of those from old Korean paintings. A preppy mood ruled at Beyond Closet whose models dressed in bright-colored pieces that created a fresh, young boy image. Big Park added dresses and two-piece dresses featuring thin stripes and motifs of interior decor.

According to the organizers, the event was lauded as a “sophisticated and fantastic show” and “something that brings together popular taste and an experimental edge.”

Bruce Pask, fashion director at T Magazine of The New York Times, said Korean fashion that represents the Asian fashion world has shown remarkable achievement brought by young designers from outside the New York fashion scene.

Guests to the fashion show also included Fern Mallis, creator of Fashion Week in New York City, celebrities and fashion editors from popular fashion magazines such as Women’s Wear Daily, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, and journalists from major media outlets such as Reuters, BBC and CNN.

The Concept Korea fashion show is a regular fashion event organized by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Creative Content Agency, which offer support for the selected designers, including space in multi-brand stores in New York, professional promotional support and consulting services.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)