Jump to content

Seoul Fashion Week

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seoul Fashion Week
Seoul Fashion Week 2027 S/S
GenreClothing and fashion exhibitions
DatesSpring and fall
FrequencySemiannual
LocationsSeoul, South Korea
Inaugurated2000
Organised bySeoul Design Foundation
Websiteseoulfashionweek.org

Seoul Fashion Week (SFW; Korean: 서울패션위크)[1] is a biannual fashion event held in Seoul, South Korea. Organized by the Seoul Design Foundation under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it has grown into one of the most prominent fashion weeks in Asia. It presents collections by Korean and international designers to buyers and the media. The main venue is Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

History

[edit]

The event traces its official runway programme to the first Seoul Collection in October 2000, part of an effort to promote the South Korean fashion industry.[2] Early editions were staged at changing venues in Seoul. Generation Next, a platform for emerging designers, was introduced in 2008.[3]

In 2014 the event moved to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and came under the Seoul Design Foundation.[4] In 2015 designer Jung Ku-ho was appointed director and cosmetics brand Hera became title sponsor, after which some editions were billed as Hera Seoul Fashion Week.[5]

Format

[edit]

Seoul Fashion Week is held twice a year, for the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons. Its main programmes are the Seoul Collection for established designers, Generation Next for emerging labels, and a trade show connecting brands with buyers.[6] DDP has been the principal venue since 2014. Later editions have also used other sites in the city, including historic and commercial locations such as Deoksugung and Lotte World Tower.[7]

Digital editions

[edit]

During the COVID-19 pandemic the event shifted to digital or hybrid formats. The 2021 S/S edition, held in late 2020, was presented as a non-contact runway; Ji Chun-hee's Miss Gee Collection opened the season.[8] Subsequent seasons used pre-recorded fashion films at landmarks across Seoul before live shows returned at DDP.[9]

Celebrity participation

[edit]

Seoul Fashion Week has long mixed professional models with celebrities on the runway. Korean designers have invited well-known models, actors and singers to walk their shows, a practice covered regularly by domestic entertainment and fashion press. In 2018, Jang Yoon-ju, Lee Hyun-yi and Byun Jung-soo walked the Miss Gee Collection.[10] In 2019, Lee Ki-woo walked Songzio Homme; Cha Seung-won, a longtime muse of the label, has appeared in its presentations for decades.[11] In 2020, Cha Eun-woo made his runway debut in the Miss Gee Collection.[12] In 2021, Kai of Exo filmed a promotional runway look for Bmuet(te) as a Seoul Fashion Week ambassador.[13] In 2022, Go Min-si and Hwang Bo-reum-byeol walked the Miss Gee Collection,[14] and Cha Seung-won, Bae Jung-nam, Lee Ki-woo and Han Hye-jin later opened the season for Songzio.[15][16] In 2025, Kasia and Sasha of Ifeye walked for Re Rhee.[17] In 2026, Hwang Chan-sung of 2PM walked Re Rhee's opening show.[18]

International profile

[edit]

Seoul Fashion Week has received periodic coverage from international fashion media, including Vogue and Business of Fashion.[19] Vogue reported that organizers estimated about 10,000 visitors a day at recent editions. The South China Morning Post wrote in 2017 that, among newer fashion weeks, Seoul Fashion Week had attracted the most international praise.[20]

Organizers have used the event to connect Korean labels with overseas buyers. The Seoul Metropolitan Government reported trade-show consultation values of US$6.13 million for the 2025 S/S season, US$6.71 million for 2025 F/W and US$7.45 million for 2026 S/S.[21] Buyers from department stores and multi-brand retailers in Europe, North America and Asia have attended the trade show. The city has also supported selected designers showing abroad, including presentations tied to Paris and Milan fashion weeks.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Seoul Fashion Week". Seoul Fashion Week. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Discover Korean Fashion". Seoul Design Foundation / Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Discover Korean Fashion". Seoul Design Foundation / Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Discover Korean Fashion". Seoul Design Foundation / Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Businesses cash in on Fashion Week". The Korea Herald. October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ "서울패션위크" (in Korean). Seoul Metropolitan Government. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Seoul Fashion Week to Connect DDP and Lotte World Tower, Turning Seoul Landmarks into Runways". Seoul Metropolitan Government. August 20, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ 코로나19 속 첫 비대면 런웨이 성황리 폐막. The Korea Times (in Korean). November 4, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ 서울패션위크, 경복궁부터 DDP까지 '런웨이'로…엑소 '카이' 뜬다. Newsis (in Korean). September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ [영상] 2018 F/W 헤라서울패션위크 런웨이에 오른 변정수·장윤주·이현이. Newspim (in Korean). March 22, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  11. ↑ 이기우, 서울패션위크 송지오 옴므 런웨이 오른다. TenAsia (in Korean). March 21, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  12. ↑ '집사부일체' 지춘희 PICK 차은우, 서울 패션위크 '패션쇼 런웨이' 도전 성공. SBS News (in Korean). November 1, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ 서울패션위크, 경복궁부터 DDP까지 '런웨이'로…엑소 '카이' 뜬다. Newsis (in Korean). September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  14. ↑ Welcome Back. Arena Homme+ (in Korean). April 26, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  15. ↑ [단독] 차승원X배정남X이기우, 서울패션위크 선다…송지오 쇼 런웨이. YTN (in Korean). September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ 런웨이 오른 한혜진, 이래서 톱모델. Xports News (in Korean). October 11, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ ‘리이’ 구조적 테일러링, 시적인 디테일 ‘찬사’. Korea Textile News (in Korean). September 9, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ Hong, Yoo (September 1, 2026). "2PM's Chansung walks Re Rhee show opening Seoul Fashion Week". The Korea Herald. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  19. ↑ Verner, Amy (September 11, 2026). "From Robot Models to Bold Minimalism: Seoul Fashion Week Shows Another Side of K-Culture". Vogue. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Why Seoul is now Asia's hottest fashion city". South China Morning Post. November 14, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Fashion Shows and Orders at DDP: Seoul Fashion Week Boosts Viewing and Business Efficiency". Seoul Metropolitan Government. January 28, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  22. ↑ ‘서울패션위크’의 힘은 어디서 비롯되는가. Fashion Insight (in Korean). January 28, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seoul_Fashion_Week&oldid=1376675482"