Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Korean Fashion
Korean fashion is developing at a fast pace as Korean wave (Hallyu) is spread out to worldwide, and we have respect that designers in Korea have come a long way. Fashion in Korea places a great emphasis on creativity and originality and it comes as no surprise that more and more people turn their attention towards the Korean fashion. People who appreciate trend and uniqueness will definitely become a fan of Korean clothes. For all fashion people who have never been to Dongdaemun out there, I highly recommend you to book your tickets to Seoul right now!
Back in the days, Japan was the only country in the Asia that was known for their extraordinary fashion. Nowadays, Korea is probably the most popular country in the Asia in shopping clothing, accessories, and also cosmetics. As mentioned before, this is because of K-pop music hitting the world with its catch melodies, and handsome and pretty looking idol singers. These celebrities have a powerful fandom and influence on fans, and those fans of K-pop celebrities wish to dress up and even look like their stars. Korean made products are in high demand these days and the number of customers who tried ‘made in Korea’ items are keeps on increasing, and also therefore, the travelers coming to South Korea is also growing.
In the past, Myeongdong was the only known place for shopping in Seoul for foreigners places for foreigners. It still is the must-visit place for shopaholics. In Myeongdong, you can find all kinds of Korean domestic and worldwide brands, as well as Korean cosmetics brands such as Missha, The Face Shop, Skin Food, Nature Republic, Etude House, and more. You can also find numerous non-brand Korean clothing stores on the street which offer various styles in trend at affordable price, alongside a big Lotte Department Store, where you can buy luxury goods. Myeongdong has brand and non-brand Korean clothes shops so there is a wide price range to shop for all people.
On the other side, Seoul’s Dongdaemun has a nickname, ‘shopping heaven’. Dongdaemun is located in the central of Seoul, and is divided into two parts for wholesalers and retailers, respectively. These days, it is not surprising to see Chinese buyers purchasing a huge amount of Korean products at night market in the area. Dongdaemun has many more than 30,000 outlets alongside fancy shopping malls which bring tourists easier to shop even in Summer and Winter. It is the place where you will find the most amazing quality Korean made products in Korea as all Korean clothes, accessories, shoes are all made in thousands of sewing workshops packed into a 2 sq. km area (3/4 square mile).
Since March 2014, Dongdaemun has become a new landmark in Seoul after the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) opened its doors. This highly urban design building is designed by Iraqi British architect Zaha Hadid and Korean studio Samoo, and features a fashion design information center with seminar rooms and a lecture hall for conventions and exhibitions. The Dongdaemun History & Culture Park replaces Dongdaemun’s older baseball and soccer stadiums. The Underground Cultural Plaza allows access to the east and west sides of the Dongdaemun Fashion District which is bisected at ground level by a major road. It connects to the Euljiro underground stores, as well as to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, subway line 2/4/5. Recently, 2015’s Seoul Fashion Week was held at the DDP, participated by many famous Korean brand designers and celebrities.
Korean Fashion is now available at competitive prices and local designers promote their designs at home as well as abroad. There is a lot of talk about the recent Korean fashion and people are looking forward to see the latest designs of the finest designers. We should not forget to mention that Korean designers have also penetrated the international market and earned success.
