Designer sees Seoul as future fashion hot spot
Mark Eley
But Mark Eley of the renowned Eley Kishimoto brand thinks that could change quickly.
“The fashion industry in Korea has developed very much over the years as there are more Korean students studying [fashion] abroad, and its competitiveness is growing,” Eley said while in town this week. The designer served as a judge at the 27th Korea Fashion Design Contest on Wednesday, which was organized by the Korea Fashion Association and held at the Seoul Trade Exhibition and Convention near Hangnyeoul Station in southern Seoul.
“Having traveled to both Japan and Korea over the past 10 years, I have to say that Korea’s fashion industry is following the path of Japan five to 10 years ago, and its excellence will be recognized globally,” the designer said, adding that there should be more programs like the Korea Fashion Design Contest to nurture up-and-coming designers.
The local contest has been a springboard for amateur designers, helping them start their careers and garner further academic and financial support. Twelve contestants are given awards totaling 60 million won ($52,000), and two top winners are given the chance to study fashion abroad.
Eley, 41, is one of the two founders of the London-based fashion and design company Eley Kishimoto, which is well known for its kitschy print patterns. Eley launched the brand with his Japanese wife, Wakako Kishimoto, in 1992 after studying fashion at Brighton Polytechnic (now the University of Brighton) in the United Kingdom.
“I have judged many young fashion designers’ works, but for this particular one [the Korea Fashion Design Contest], participants were different in terms of their creativity in design,” Eley said.
He noted that Korean designers should link up with their peers in developed countries to further expand the local fashion industry by sharing information and ideas.
By Lee Eun-joo [angie@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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