Runway to Seoul took place at the DDP Oullim Square in Seoul on September 23, 2023, in collaboration with WWD Korea, SBA (Seoul Business Agency), and KBIZ (Korea Federation of SMEs). The event hoped to open a path for domestic fashion brands, aiming to infuse the essence of K-fashion, beauty, entertainment, and cutting-edge technology to step onto a more global stage
Featuring a diverse lineup of designers, ranging from fashion collections to performances, the runway was an overall celebration of community.
“WWD Korea’s Runway to Seoul event is a spectacular fusion, combining the very best of K-culture—where fashion, music, technology, and entertainment converge in perfect unison,” said Yuna Kim, the publisher of WWD Korea. “Their vision is to present a celebration of creativity and innovation for the next generation. WWD Korea, as a cultural ambassador, is passionately committed to expanding Runway to Seoul, weaving vibrant Korean artistry and culture into a global stage that bridges fashion, music, technology, and entertainment,” Kim added.
Strutting their stuff, a lineup of designers including ‘8 by Yoox,’ ‘L.e.e.y,’ ‘Ordinary People,’ ‘NACHE,’ ‘NICHE2NIGHT,’ ‘KOWGI,’ and ‘MINA CHUNG‘ took the stage.
Each one of the brands unveiled their one-of-a-kind creations, ‘Ordinary People’ drew inspiration from travel, ‘MINA CHUNG’ focused on minimalism, ‘NICHE2NIGHT’ targeted the niche market in men’s clothing, ‘NACHE’ showcased summer and spring collections, ‘KOWGI’ explored a blend of natural and fantastical elements, and ‘L.e.e.y’ brought something contrasting and new with unique graphic style, and you can explore all these designers directly on their linked websites.
Click on the images to see more from the designers.
The showcase was further elevated with performances by K-Pop group ‘Kiss Of Life,’ Korean artist ‘Kimximyada,’ DJ ‘250,’ and a dance performance by ‘D’AUSPICE.’ The event also featured appearances by K-Pop groups ‘Cherry Bullet’ and ‘Nature.’ Among the notable attendees were Holland, Swings, Ji Il-joo, Kim Min Kyu and many more who joined along to enjoy the Runway to Seoul.
Another one of the activities at the event include interactive experiences from the creative studio ‘GALLERIEX‘ to that provided AR/XR experiential fashion booths. The content at the booth was created from clothing showcased by participating brands and offered attendees a novel brand experience in the form of 3D art objects, blurring the line between fashion and technology.
Overall, the Runway to Seoul event showcased a fusion of fashion, culture, technology, and entertainment while serving as a platform to support and promote the Korean fashion industry on a global scale.
To see more of Runway to Seoul you can check out their instagram here and their website here.