In any conversation about rising fashion capitals, Seoul is one of the first names to come up. South Korea has always had a unique sense of style and a flair for fashion, but lately it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the country’s global influence when it comes to the way people dress.
At the centre of this is an ever-expanding crop of homegrown brands helping to export Korean style and bring a new flavour to wardrobes around the world. The fits are loose, the silhouettes are often unconventional, and the overarching aesthetic is hard to pin down. What we do know is it looks great… if you’re paying attention to the right labels.
With that in mind, we want to introduce you to a few of our favourite Korean men’s fashion brands. The labels we’ve discovered that are carving out their own paths and bringing the Korean sense of style to a wider global audience. From the oversized military-inspired garb of FrizmWORKS to the dark, Rick Owens-esque designs of Juun.J – these are the names to know.
FrizmWORKS
If you’re not from Korea, you might have only come across FrizmWorks recently. Or not at all. That’s because, despite being founded in 2010, the military-inspired brand has only been available outside of the country for a few short years.
The vibe is oversized, utilitarian and workwear-influenced, focusing on durable fabrics and earthy colours.
Thisisneverthat
Another brand that sprung up in Seoul in 2010 is Thisisneverthat, which quickly became a cornerstone of the Korean streetwear scene. Founded by three friends, the label blends elements of skate culture, 90s nostalgia and utilitarian design, focusing on streetwear staples like graphic tees, hoodies and sweats, often drawing from its hometown’s urban landscape and youth culture for inspiration.
It’s also been involved in some solid collaborations. Most recently with American/Japanese climbing apparel brand Gramicci.
Juun.J
Juun.J is Korean high fashion in full effect. Fronted by founder Jung Wook-jun, it’s known for its futuristic, avant-garde designs, which often deconstruct classic menswear silhouettes and reinterpret them with modern twists and a dark, moody, often monochromatic colour palette.
This approach has been getting the brand noticed by some big names. Recently, there have been high-profile collaborations with Canada Goose and Puma, to name just a couple.
Wooyoungmi
Strictly speaking, Wooyoungmi is a Parisian brand, given that it was founded in Paris. However, its eponymous founder is South Korean, and a heavy Korean influence runs through the designs.
The label acts as a bridge between modern and classic menswear, mixing sharp tailoring with unconventional shapes and contemporary details, plus a generous side of workwear- and sportswear-inspired casual clothes.
It’s a recipe that allowed Wooyoungmi to become one of the first Korean brands to establish a real presence in the international market, paving the way for a host of emerging names from the country.
Post Archive Faction
Post Archive Faction (PAF) doesn’t follow the standard fashion rulebook. It does things its own way. Founded in 2018 by Dongjoon Lim and Sookyo Jeong, the South Korean label inhabits a space somewhere between function and fantasy, merging avant-garde sportswear with futuristic outerwear.
Technical fabrics, asymmetric cuts and deconstructed silhouettes dominate the collections, often using a stark palette of washed-out blacks, greys and whites.
The brand itself calls its clothing “anti-fashion”, distorting and deconstructing familiar styles and reassembling them in ways that feel unusual and almost alien.
Coor
Minimalism probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Korean fashion, but that’s what Coor is all about. The name is derived from the term ‘common origins’, and the aesthetic is simple, stripped back and elegant, allowing shapes and proportions to do the talking rather than relying on loud colours or obnoxious branding.
As great as it is, this stuff is still tricky to get hold of outside of Korea, so you may have to do some digging if you want to own a piece or two for yourself.
Uniform Bridge
Uniform Bridge burst onto the Korean menswear scene in 2015 with a winning mix of American workwear-inspired pieces and military-influenced garb. Think durable, practical classics like fatigue pants, utility jackets and overshirts, all cut slightly boxy and oversized for a contemporary look.
It’s one of a handful of Korean labels with a strong foothold in Western markets, with big-name stockists including END., SSENSE and Liberty.
Covernat
Drawing inspiration from the military, outdoor gear and workwear (beginning to notice a theme emerging here?), Covernat has been doing its thing since 2008. It’s a well-known name among the Korean menswear crowd but still relatively underground in the West, with limited stockists.
That said, it has collaborated with some big American names in the past, including Dickies and Lee.
Eastlogue
Eastlogue is one for the true menswear aficionados. Think Engineered Garments meets Nigel Cabourn meets Universal Works. We’re talking classic military and workwear pieces freshened up with offbeat details like patch pockets aplenty, zips, clips and toggles.
The outerwear, in particular, is worth shouting about, with designs that feel both timeless and modern simultaneously. Expect to see mountain parkas, flight jackets and bombers, all boasting quirky yet subtle design elements that set them apart from the crowd.
The post The Korean Clothing Brands All Stylish Men Should Know appeared first on Ape to Gentleman.
