Five Korean fashion accessories brands to watch, for shoes, bags, jewellery and eyewear that will help you stand out
Gentle Monster eyewear, eye-catching bags by The Volon, distinctive shoes from Reike Nen and Yuul Yie, understated jewellery from Monday Edition – K-fashion accessories are at the cutting edge of style
The South Korean fashion industry has gone through a major generational shift in recent years. For a long time it was dominated by conglomerates and a few established designers, but now indie brands are writing a new chapter. Influenced by both K-pop and Korean drama serials, they are looking to expand K-fashion’s appeal by building on the foundations laid down by the big players.
The new breed of Korean designers create fun and edgy clothes and accessories which, thanks to the country’s advanced manufacturing processes, are also high-quality.
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Here are five accessories brands, all based in the South Korean capital, Seoul, that are making waves overseas.
Gentle Monster
In 2013, K-drama character Cheon Song-yi’s sunglasses flashed a bright future for Gentle Monster. With the success of the sensational series My Love from the Star, everything Cheon, played by actress Jun Ji-hyun, wore became a big hit, and Gentle Monster’s sunglasses – a match for Cheon’s quirky nature – quickly went viral.
