The 2025-2026 fall-winter Paris Fashion Week, held from March 3-11 at Palais de Tokyo, showcased a range of global fashion brands, with some K-fashion labels grabbing the spotlight.
As one of the world's four major fashion weeks, Paris is known for its avant-garde and artistic presentations, and this season, Korean designers made a powerful statement with their innovative designs.
On the first day of the event, Kimhekim, the brand of Korean designer Kim In-tae, celebrated its 9th anniversary with a collection that seamlessly blended tailoring with Korean sensibilities. The "L'atelier Kimhekim" collection featured sophisticated details such as draping couture, pearl embellishments and mesh materials, creating elegant and flowing silhouettes that captured attention. Kimhekim, which debuted in 2014, is known for its daring experimentation, mixing traditional Korean attire with modern aesthetics. This season, the brand presented looks that were both playful and refined, with soft drapery and sleek silhouettes that resonated with a global audience.
The following day, designer Park Chun-moo’s brand, De Moo, unveiled its "From Nothing" collection. The collection, built around the brand's signature colors of black and white, highlighted a striking contrast of bold tones. De Moo’s minimalistic approach was enhanced by the use of textures such as wool, jacquard, cupra and metallic fabrics, blending traditional and contemporary influences to create a sensory experience. Park emphasized that the collection served to extend the brand's identity and reaffirm De Moo’s unwavering values within the contemporary fashion landscape.
As K-fashion rapidly evolves, Korean designers are leveraging new technologies to introduce fresh, experimental designs. While lacking the long histories and heritage of European labels, Korean fashion brands are quickly responding to consumer demands and setting trends on the global stage.
"A new generation is emerging, blending colors and details with such precision that they create styles even more original than the originals. This movement is not only gaining attention but also inspiring global markets to emulate K-style, with K-pop idols and K-drama stars amplifying its influence," said an official from Korea Creative Content Agency who was at the event.
Korean celebrities also made waves at Paris Fashion Week. Blackpink’s Rose, the global ambassador for Saint Laurent, captivated audiences with her presence at the brand's show in a long white sleeveless dress. Meanwhile, Ive’s Jang Won-young embraced a cowgirl-inspired look as the ambassador for Miu Miu, and actor Park Seo-jun showcased a genderless look at the Chanel show, pairing a white tweed jacket with a Camellia corsage for an elegant touch. DJ Peggy Gou, a global sensation, attended the Chanel show in a tweed top layered with a belt and chain.
yoohong@heraldcorp.com
