Last week, style took over South Korea’s capital for the spring-summer 2024 edition of Seoul Fashion Week. Moved up a month from its traditional October schedule to coincide with the buzzy art fair Frieze — which held its own fashion week-adjacent events off-schedule with brands like We11done, Acne Studios, Charles & Keith, and Chanel, making the stylish crowds flocking to the city even bigger — all eyes were on SWF to go big and go home, showcasing the best of homegrown talent.
With NewJeans at the face of the event, Seoul Fashion Week set out to attract a bigger and younger audience this season, making significant progress from years before. All shows pertaining to the official Seoul Fashion Week schedule, from newbies to veterans, were held in the Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The backdrop might have been the same, but the shows had something in store for almost everyone, doubling down on playful, eclectic, and, above all, wearable designs that’ll be sure to please the fashion-savvy everywhere.
Below, find Teen Vogue’s top seven brands you need to know (and add to your wardrobe) from the Seoul Fashion Week spring-summer 2024 shows:
SEOKWOON YOON
A graduate of Brooklyn's Pratt Institute, Seokwoon Yoon set up his eponymous label in 2019, winning the Best New Designer Award at Seoul Fashion Week just a year later. Seokwoon Yoon's spring-summer 2024 offering was all about duality, playing on the idea of "oneirataxia" (i.e., the inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality).
On the SS24 clothes, that theme translated into a beautiful juxtaposition of tailoring, mainly shown via full suits, with free-flowing silhouettes that came to life as models graced the catwalk in Charles & Keith shoewear. The cardholder detailing, sewn onto the chest area of many of the pieces from the collection, was a standout. Though meant as a metaphor to showcase our individualities on paper, they'd make for a handy addition to your wardrobe for days when you need to show off your ID promptly.
VEGAN TIGER
Yang Yoona founded Vegan Tiger in 2015 with a cruelty-free ethos in mind. No animal-derived products are ever used in the brand's collections — so no fur, leather, or wool — and often, a portion of its proceeds are donated towards causes and ventures supporting animal rights.
For its spring-summer 2024 offering, Vegan Tiger opted to showcase elevated basics with a twist — with crochet bags and perfectly constructed yet extremely wearable corsets taking the spotlight. (If you need any more convincing, BLACKPINK's Rosé wore one of the brand's faux fur leather jackets in the music video for "Lovesick Girls.”)
Creative director Lee Seongdong founded UL:KIN in 2014 with an emphasis on the merging of art, deconstruction, and upcycling. It has since become one of the staples at Seoul Fashion Week, with idols often showing to (or even walking) the runway.
Originally shown as part of Paris Fashion Week Men's in June, UL:KIN's spring-summer 2024 offering took military-inspired workwear to a new level, showcasing a clean collection with a rugged edge. The key was in the mix of multiple textures — from glossy PU to distressed fabrics —with a minimal color palette where khakis, blacks, browns, and whites dominated. The label of "high-end casual wear" is more than justified.
BLR, the brand founded by Gwon Bongseok, was part of Seoul Fashion Week's Generation Next ensemble, aimed at showcasing new and emerging talent coming from South Korea. Though still new to the SFW schedule, BLR has been making waves in the K-scene for a while. The brand's designs have been spotted on the likes of ample K-pop and K-hip-hop stars — from EXO and SEVENTEEN to BLACKPINK's Rosé and rapper BewhY.
Faithful to the brand's DNA, BLR's spring-summer 2024 collection featured denim pieces galore. With raw edges, acid wash, distressed… You name it, and BLR most likely had it. If you like what Glenn Martens is doing at Diesel, then you'll love what Gwon is doing at BLR.
Founded by designer Yoo Sumin, 02 ARMOIRE — literally "second wardrobe" — prides itself in its "wearable, understated yet elegant designs," made from high-quality materials only.
02 ARMOIRE's spring-summer 2024 collection was the most summery offering at Seoul Fashion Week. Clean, well-tailored sailor shirts, structures jackets, and flowing skirts, mainly in blues and greens, all mixed on the runway, bringing a slice of the Mediterranean Sea to Seoul.
Helmed by PARK YOUNSOO, BIG PARK is inspired by big city living to create its clothing. Self-described as an "adventurous upscale lifestyle brand," BIG PARK wants its customers to focus on "key signature items" mixed with "dynamical artwork" weaving in Park's DNA as a designer.
BIG PARK's spring-summer 2024 offering stayed faithful to this description, presenting a collection that played with proportions and offered clean basic pieces adorned with a splash of color for a touch of fun.
ACCEPTANCE LETTER STUDIO
Berlin-based designer Jakeyoung Shim started Acceptance Letter Studio in 2021, playing off the idea of extending an invitation to anyone who'd want to become a member of his group through fashion. This sense of belonging is palpable in the clothes, which are made with a genderless approach.
Acceptance Letter Studio's spring-summer 2024 offering featured a bunch of clothes staples, made interesting via playful silhouettes and pops of colors. Whether you need to build a wardrobe from scratch or update your current one with slightly more out-there options, the brand has something in store for you.
