In a combined runway presentation during NYFW: Men’s, Concept Korea presented two collections from some of the coolest designers in the South Korean fashion scene. The brands showcased, Ordinary People and DBYD, were both on-trend, stylish collections, but DBYD was a clear favorite among the guests.
For SS16, DBYD’s hotly talented designer Kang Dong Jun was inspired by a lonely boy’s vivid imagination. Pale yellow sweatshirts with the word Loner emblazoned in a simple font were Tumblr-worthy and suited the melancholy male models. Paired together with black cotton shorts, the ensemble combined chic and gawky to create a look that spoke to the adolescent male.
Even though the lonely boy had a childish gawkiness about him, the palette was deliciously dark and brooding, filled with blacks and grays with the odd, surprising appearance of plant-inspired green prints.
Loose, oversized t-shirts, cheerfully printed with plants and fruits, contrasted beautifully with black jackets and black trousers. By combining these dark pieces with vibrant pop prints, designer Kang Dong Jun suggested to the audience a boy’s tempestuous nature: optimistic and naïve one minute, yet brooding and dark the next. Each look was representative of a boy entering man-hood, unsure of what step to take next. Ripped denim shorts, black Velcro sandals and loose, over-sized fits only enhanced this romantic aesthetic.
The success of the DBYD runway show is in part thanks to the work of Concept Korea, a collaborative initiative that works to promote South Korean fashion designers attempting to break into the competitive U.S. market. Hopefully, in response to the positive feedback received during NYFW:Men’s, we’ll be seeing more from DBYD and other South Korean designers next season.
