Summit of Fashion : Korea's Top Designers In Perfect 'Harmony'

Fashion shows are not normally associated with international summits, where heads of state confer on serious issues far removed from this year's fall-winter collection.

But whoever said fashion and politics don't mix never tangled with former U.S. first lady Nancy Reagan's hairdresser. And so, in celebration of the third Asia-Europe Meeting, the Korean Ministry of Industry and Resource, in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the City of Seoul will present the Seoul Collection ASEM Gala Show on Saturday in the COEX Exhibition Hall, a fashion extravaganza featuring Korea's top designers

The central theme of the fashion show will be harmony, or "oullim" in Korean, and its participants include designers Gee Choon-hee, Ahn Yoon-jung, Hong Mi-wha, Troa Cho, Icinoo, and Lee Young-hee. Designer Lee Young-hee's Fall 2000 collection in particular was critically acclaimed at a show June 30 at Carnegie Hall, New York City. The ASEM catwalk will features her original designs that were inspired by the Hanbok, a traditional Korean garment.

by Ines Cho