logo
Seoul Fashion Week opens with AI-driven sustainability

Seoul Fashion Week opens with AI-driven sustainability

Korea Herald06-02-2025
The 2025 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week kicked off Wednesday at the iconic Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, showcasing a fusion of cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship. Despite the record-setting freezing weather and a noticeable absence of top celebrities, fans filled the venue early in the morning to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars on the photo lines.
Opening the biannual fashion event was Hannah Shin's stunning presentation, highlighting her fashion-tech collection titled 'Cosmogony: The Sound of Breaking Stars.' Under the theme of "glamorous sustainable fashion with technology," Shin, in collaboration with KAIST's EXO Lab and Stratasys Korea, showcased a groundbreaking mix of AI and PolyJet 3D printing, paired with traditional techniques such as leather molding, weaving and applique.
Shin's collection, inspired by the life force of nature, brought together biomimicry designs to express timeless dignity and beauty. The runway featured pieces crafted from upcycled AI robot waste and excess bead stock, underscoring the brand's commitment to sustainable fashion.
'I believe in the possibilities of technological fusion for sustainable fashion, and I will continue to explore experimental collaborations to engage the public,' said Shin.
The collection also featured striking outfits: oversized faux fur jackets, corset-inspired dresses and a variety of leather two-piece suits for both men and women. A standout moment was the appearance of a model in a WalkON Suit, a wearable robot designed to assist those with paraplegia. The innovative piece, developed by a research team at KAIST, has been in development since 2015.
Among the stars in the front row were beauty influencer Risabae, Japanese actor Junsei Motojima, Taiwanese actor Jin Yun, actor Dex and K-pop idols Shownu and Minhyuk from Monsta X. Rapper Tiger JK and Thai actor Boss Chaikamon Sermsongwittaya also made appearances.
Global fashion brand Ajobyajo also captivated the audience Wednesday with its thought-provoking runway. Drawing inspiration from Walter Benjamin's concept of constellations, Ajobyajo's collection explored how interconnected elements can regain meaning and vitality. The brand's message, which advocates for renewing the past through new connections, resonated with the audience, reflecting a timely call for sustainable and innovative approaches to fashion.
The 2025 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week runs through Sunday, with collections featuring futuristic fashion and innovative technology.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

S. Korea to mark 80th Liberation Day with commemorative ceremony, formal inauguration of Lee
S. Korea to mark 80th Liberation Day with commemorative ceremony, formal inauguration of Lee

Korea Herald

time6 minutes ago

  • Korea Herald

S. Korea to mark 80th Liberation Day with commemorative ceremony, formal inauguration of Lee

South Korea will commemorate its National Liberation Day on Friday with a series of major events in central Seoul: a morning ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, and an inauguration ceremony for President Lee Jae Myung in the evening. At 10 a.m., the commemoration of the 80th National Liberation Day will take place at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts. Around 2,500 people, including descendants of independence activists, senior government officials, diplomatic missions to Korea as well as representatives of various social groups, will be in attendance. Eighty national flags of Korea will be displayed on stage in commemoration of the 80th anniversary, while the opening performance, 'Arirang Rhapsody,' will blend traditional Korean music, orchestra and choral elements in symbolism of the country's growth over eight decades. The descendants of 80 independence activists will also join the stage during the performance. Another celebratory performance will also take place in the form of a theatrical production, showcasing Korea's cultural strength envisioned by late independence leader Kim Gu. The program will also feature the Pledge of Allegiance, accompanied by actor Cho Jin-woong, as well as a commemorative address and an award ceremony where Independence Merit Awards will be handed out to the independence activists' descendants. A total of 311 people have been named as recipients this year, and five of those recipients will receive the award in person at the ceremony. In the evening, an inauguration ceremony for President Lee will take place at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Lee, who assumed the presidency on June 4, took the position without the customary transition period or ceremony. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the event will bring together leading figures across various fields in Korean society — including business, culture, education, labor, science and technology and women's affairs — alongside senior government officials and politicians, and foreign diplomats based in Korea. Some 3,500 citizens who applied in advance will also be in attendance. Eighty citizen representatives, including trauma surgeon and director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital Lee Guk-jong and go master Lee Se-dol will take the stage to hand the letter of appointment to Lee. Each representative will deliver the letter, which contains their hopes and wishes for Korea and its future. The event will be followed by the president's remarks, expressing gratitude and commitment for his remaining career in office. The evening ceremony will also consist of cultural performances, featuring a musical performance by veteran singer Lee Eun-mi and a performance of 'Golden' from the "K-pop Demon Hunters" soundtrack by Izna. Both opposition parties — the People Power Party and New Reform Party — stated that they will not be attending Lee's inauguration ceremony. Representatives from both parties were quoted in local media reports saying that they found 'no clear purpose' for the appointment ceremony and said it 'does not align with the spirit of National Liberation Day.'

Japan-themed events face backlash ahead of Liberation Day
Japan-themed events face backlash ahead of Liberation Day

Korea Herald

timean hour ago

  • Korea Herald

Japan-themed events face backlash ahead of Liberation Day

With the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule just around the corner, a Japanese-themed festival at a theme park here is fueling heated debate online. Nijimori Studio in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, has been holding a summer festival since July 26, which runs through this Sunday. The festival offers visitors a chance to experience Japanese culture through activities such as trying on traditional attire, attending samurai duel performances and watching parades of portable Shinto shrines, officials said. What sparked controversy are the programs planned for Friday, which include a samurai duel performance and a kimono contest. This falls on the same day as National Liberation Day, a national holiday that marks Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1919-1945). Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University in Seoul and an outspoken activist on issues related to South Korean sovereignty, wrote in a Facebook post that 'holding such an event on National Liberation Day goes against the national sentiment.' Nijimori Studio is a commercial facility repurposed into a theme park from a former film and drama set. Some online users, however, argued that historical issues and cultural consumption should be seen separately. 'Should every Japanese restaurant just shut down? If we start rejecting cultural exchange because of a country's past wrongdoings, what's the point of diplomacy?' one Facebook user wrote. The theme park responded to the controversy by introducing programs to mark National Liberation Day, including the reading of a celebratory message and a lantern-floating event honoring independence activists. A similar controversy erupted earlier last week when the professional baseball team LG Twins announced plans to invite 'Tanjiro' and 'Nezuko,' characters from the hit Japanese anime Demon Slayer, to throw the ceremonial first pitch at their game against the Hanwha Eagles on Saturday. The team ultimately canceled the plan amid mounting public criticism. Demon Slayer is set during Japan's imperial era, and the pattern on the main character's earrings has long drawn backlash for resembling the Rising Sun flag, a symbol linked to Japanese militarism. Amid the ongoing controversy over Japanese cultural events on National Liberation Day, demand for travel to Japan has remained steady. More than 9 million passengers traveled on flights between Korea and Japan as of July 17, marking a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Incheon International Airport Corporation.

Podo Museum exhibition poetically reflects on human vulnerability
Podo Museum exhibition poetically reflects on human vulnerability

Korea Herald

timea day ago

  • Korea Herald

Podo Museum exhibition poetically reflects on human vulnerability

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Distrust, jealousy and endless desires drive us to fight and wound each other. Wars take place one after another across the globe, claiming the lives of innocent civilians. We often forget how fragile and small human beings are in the vast universe. 'We, Such Fragile Beings' at the Podo Museum on Jeju Island began with that thought. Bringing together 13 artists from around the world, the exhibition offers comfort and compassion to visitors who are grieving, whether directly or indirectly. 'While preparing for this exhibition, I reflected on how we often get caught up in the struggles and conflicts of everyday life. If we can expand the 'common denominator,' whether through religion, music or any experience that transcends our immediate concerns, we can see those daily challenges from a much broader perspective,' said Chloe Kim, executive director of Podo Museum, Friday at the museum. Seemingly a curtain with an image of countless stars and planets in the Milky Way, the installation 'Drawings on Newspaper' by Japanese artist Sumi Kanazawa consists of newspapers with densely drawn lines using soft, dark 10B pencils. Events from different times and dates are seen where the pencil has skipped over. Standing before the work, which feels meditative, one may realize just how many things are concurrently going in this vast universe. Lebanese artist Annabel Daou's scroll-like work unfurls from the gallery wall and spills out onto the floor, beginning with the phrase from the American Declaration of Independence from which it takes its name, 'When in the Course of Human Events.' Unlike the declaration's urgent call to action, the hundreds of sentences written in white correction fluid on black microfiber by ordinary people continue with phrases emphasizing needs, hopes and desires 'to breathe deeply,' 'to reach out' and 'to hold back tears.' 'It was in 2019 that I began working on it at a time when there were protests all across the world. I had this kind of sense that this was the moment, a pivotal moment. "I started asking people to complete the sentence, and what was really interesting to me is that it was the sense of excitement — the possibility of rewriting or adapting the form of this US document that was written by wealthy white men and to put it in the voice of people across the world,' the New York-based artist said. A white hallway of the museum is filled floor to ceiling with 560 white clocks, the sound of their ticking like falling rain. Each clock has a name, a job and a country. The installation by Korean artist Lee Wan shows each clock is ticking at a different speed. "There is a formula for calculating the speed of the clocks. By entering data from the people I interviewed, such as their income, the cost of living in their country and how much they pay for a single meal, I was able to determine the pace of time for each person. 'However, this pace does not represent an eternal speed. The speed of time for everyone represented in the clocks will continue to flow as it does at this very moment,' he said. Outside the museum is an installation by Robert Montgomery where light-emitting diode bulbs create the sentence: 'Love is the revolutionary energy that annihilates the shadows and collapses this distance between us.' The exhibition runs to Aug. 8, 2026 at the museum owned by SK Group.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store