If anyone’s stopped by Seoul Fashion Week’s homepage lately you’d learn that the Korean fashion industry has been chosen by the Korean government as one of six “new-growth power industries.” This means support of all forms to reach Seoul’s goal as one of the world capitals of fashion . Included in this is direct support for Korea’s young designers. Ten enterprising designers are being financially supported to represent Korea at Paris’s TRANOI trade show. This showcasing of Korea’s talent is one of the initiatives to bring foreign buyers to the Korean market.
Seoul has also taken steps to makeover the landscape of it’s famous fashion district, Dongdaemun. Currently the world’s largest clothing market and one of the largest tourist magnets in Korea. In hopes to modernize the industry and again, attract foreign attention, Seoul has recruited foreign architect Zaha Hadid to create a fashion plaza, in place of a sports stadium, built during Japanese occupation, that has been there since 1926.
This all blends into Seoul’s current appointment as “World Design Capital.” You can watch a good video about it here or check out the official website. Fashion Week starts Friday(10-22-2010)! I’ll try to do some research about the ten designers headed for TRANOI, but if you can’t wait you can do it yourself from Seoul’s 10 Seoul.
Tokyo and Hong Kong watch out, Korea’s putting all of their effort into this one!
