The Korea Herald

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Designer Im Seon-oc offers mix of structured and fluid looks

By Choi Si-young

Published : Feb. 4, 2024 - 17:53

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Models wear creations for Partsparts as part of the fall-winter 2024 collection showcased during Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Saturday. (Seoul City) Models wear creations for Partsparts as part of the fall-winter 2024 collection showcased during Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Saturday. (Seoul City)

As expected, Im Seon-oc, the womenswear designer known for her use of neoprene, celebrated her synthetic-rubber style at Seoul Fashion Week on Saturday, this time in exuberant bursts of pink, red and lavender.

The fall-winter 2024 collection of Partsparts embodied muted luxury or a “uniform for city life.” Long-sleeve tops and draped trousers, with minimal or almost no embellishments, reflected Im’s way of balancing practicality and originality.

“Clothes have to be innovative as well as practical,” Im said of her collection presented at at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, hinting that her commitment to neoprene will continue to define her brand.

The 62-year-old designer who espouses “zero waste” calls on fashion to “break free from cliches and wastefulness.”

As one of the early designers to be conscious of how fashion leaves behind waste, hurting the economy in the long term, the graphic designer-turned-fashion designer has emphasized sustainability since launching Partsparts in 2011.

“Zero waste” is more than a slogan, according to Im, who turns scraps of material left over from cutting fabrics into bags and accessories.

The five-day Seoul Fashion Week, which started Thursday, runs through Monday at DDP and SFactory.