Korean label Demin has its sights set on Europe

It's no secret that Korean fashion is having a moment, especially in Hong Kong. And the latest label that is winning over local fans is the cool yet minimalist Demin. The brand's launch was celebrated at I.T. last month, with a party attended by K-pop band member and loyal customer Jessica Jung from Girls' Generation.

Demin's edge comes from its designer, Min Young Chang. Born in Seoul, he studied graphic design at Chung-Ang University before deciding to make the leap into fashion design. Unlike his peers, who studied on home turf, he set his sights on the West.

"I went to Italy behind my parents' back and decided to pursue fashion. The first year in Italy I was disappointed. I didn't learn anything new because I already had a strong design background. But in the second year I noticed something - the Italians had this innate sense of style and passion for beauty that made them design differently," he says.

Intent on learning more, he stayed in Europe for 10 years, working as a freelance accessory designer, and then for a design company that works with the likes of Hugo Boss, Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2009, he was lured back to Korea by a local company. Once there, he decided to launch his own label in September 2012.

"Working within the Korean framework was initially hard. Italy is freer, and you can design what you want regardless of sales. That being said, there was something special about Korean designs. If you look at brands like Gucci and Tom Ford, they don't suit the Asian figure. So I combine the Korean fit with my design instincts from the West," he says.

The result is modern minimalism with a focus on architectural lines. The spring-summer 2013 collection features a futuristic zip-up jacket brought to life with patchworks of different fabrics and sloped shoulders. A floor-length, long-sleeved white gown has contrasting black panels on the shoulders and waistline. A red dress has flounces at the waist, creating a mini peplum.