Steve J & Yoni P, Andy & Debb, KAAL E SUKTAE, Studio K  showcase flamboyant prints, pleats


Color-saturated patterns took over the runways on Wednesday at Seoul Fashion Week.

Showcased in the Fashion Take-off section at SETEC’s Hall 2 in Daechi-dong, Seoul, Steve J & Yoni P rolled out a spring/summer collection almost totally immersed in flamboyant flower patterns reminiscent of Hawaiian beach wear. Energetic and sporty, the collection is aimed at urban jetsetters, the program notes said.

The husband-and-wife designer duo offered a complete look in the pattern, from sun caps and raincoats to trolleys and even neck pillows.

Also inspired by laid-back beachgoers on vacation, another husband-and-wife team Andy & Debb created a total vintage resort look.

The collection, showcased at the Seoul Collection section at Hall 1, consisted of beach colors like ivory, sandy beige, royal blue and green and tiny surf board motif prints or sunset patterns, but in a more mature and muted fashion compared to Steve J & Yoni P.

Also at Hall 1, Lee Suk-tae of KAAL E SUKTAE focused on water this season, inspired by the biblical phrase “Let there be a firmament in the midst of waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters” from Genesis.

He opened the stage with refreshing images of raindrops falling down and water splashing around, and sent down the runway an airy collection of satin and chiffon dresses, mesh-added silk pants dipped into watery patterns of sky blue, gray and white. 

Pleats created another “it” look for the 2012 Spring/Summer season.

Designer Hong Hye-jin of Studio K, who had showcased in “Generation Next” in the previous seasons, debuted in “Fashion Take-off” this time with her signature serene and philosophical collection. Sophisticated pleats were found in most of her works ― in skirts of various lengths, jacket tails and shirts. Andy & Debb also occasionally used crisp pleats on blouses and maxi dresses as well.

“Generation Next,” one of the three major sections of Seoul Fashion Week, opened on Wednesday, but more could have been done for the up-and-coming designers expected lead the nation’s fashion industry in the future. Designer Lee Jae-hwan’s show, the section curtain-raiser, received favorable comments from foreign press and buyers but the venue, Samsung D’light, left much to be desired.

It took nearly an hour from SETEC to get to the building ― which is a showroom and office building for the Samsung Group ― due to the usual traffic in the area, and the hall used for the show was far too small to accommodate the press, buyers and visitors. Kring, which was the previous venue for the event, was at least spacious, artsy and focused for the show.

Those attending had to watch the show cramped into three rows of chairs on each side and models had to walk down the tiny catwalk with electronic screens awkwardly installed in the middle. The screens did nothing, at least during the jaehwan*lee collection, and models only had to double their work to walk down the aisle twice, once on each side.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)