Monthly Archives: March 2015
Hugh Jackman celebrates his Wolverine South Korean premiere

Hugh Jackman celebrated the South Korean premiere of his new film “The Wolverine” held at Coex on July 15, 2013 in Seoul, South Korea.
The 44-year-old Australian actor looked sharp in his slate blue suit, taking photos with adoring fans in the crowd and speaking animatedly on the stage to them.
Jackman is still sporting his whiskers, which undoubtedly suited his Wolverine role. His fantastic buff physique which he maintains for roles such as these are a great by-product too.
Though the New York Post reports that the Jackman’s nude romp at a Japanese hot springs while filming on location got locals upset. Can’t imagine why…
Directed by James Mangold, the intriguing1 storyline to “The Wolverine” goes along the lines of Jackman’s Wolverine character, “Logan” being summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance and becoming embroiled in a conflict that forces him to confront his own demons.
There Wolverine faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him changed forever. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, Wolverine confronts not only “lethal samurai steel” but also an inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than ever…
Starring opposite Hugh Jackman are Famke Janssen as “Jean Grey,” Will Yun Lee as “Silver Samurai Kenuichio Harada” and Svetlana Khodchenkova as “Viper.”
“The Wolverine” will be released for public viewing in South Korea on July 25 and in the United States on July 26.
Concept Korea showcases five designers at New York Fashion Week 2013
Concept Korea returned to the stage at Lincoln Center for Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. This year marked its 7th year to showcase 5 of their most talented Korean collection hand picked by the industry’s notable figures such as Fern Mallis, found of New York Fashion Week, Stan Herman, Dean of Parmans, Collen Shering, Fashion Director of Saks Fifth to name a few.
Concept Korea
View all19 photos
The theme this year is ‘Rhythm of Korea, where traditional Korean music, embodying the spirit of Seoul, was the patriotic drive to direct the flow of the shows. The designers who showed are Choiboko, Cres. E Dim., Kye, Lie sang bong, andSon Jung Wan. My favourite was the special crossover visual presentation of fashion and music before each designer’s first walk encapsulating each brand’s reigning concept for Fall/Winter 2013.
Each collection was such a pleasant contrast one after another. Choiboko was the first to grace the runway this year. His FW 2013 collection is titled the ‘Dance of Gods’. He had a variety of abstract prints as if they were dancing on the fabrics of different shapes and forms. He stuck to the blander colour palette of cream, black and red.
The second brand was Cres. E. Dim by Hongbum Kim. His inspiration came from the musical term ‘crescendo e diminuendo’, this was reflected by his choice of background music for his runway show. My favourite from his FW2013 was cropped top long sleeved with paired with olive green high-waisted pants.
Next was a change of tone presented by Son Jung Wan, she presented a collection of ‘dynamic romance’. And it was truly beautiful. Her brand is an amalgamation of New York minimalistic silhouettes and romantic retro glam. Her inspiration for this collection was a Wassily Kandinsky and The Catherine Palace.
After Son Jung Wan’s girly fur on feminine flowy numbers, we saw another sharp change by Lie Sang Bong’s retro collection. The first look gave a dramatic entrance by presenting a lit-up hat against the darkness before the spotlight hits the runway. This specially gave the audience some excitement. The collection was filled with geometrical shapes and voluminous outerwear. My favourite were the looks with Piet Mondrian’s 1920s world-renowned prints.
The show ended with Kye by Kathleen Hanhee Kye; a recent Central Saint Martins graduate. It is a popular brand amongst the most powerful retailers like Opening Ceremony and Harvey Nichols. Her collection was titled ‘Unemployed Youth: Homeless Youth” – drawing inspiration from Seoul Station. It was filled with dizzying graffiti coloured prints, oversized jackets and coats, which in an essence was described as a fun collection.
All in all, this collective show was fun and filled with variety. This definitely goes to show that the Korean fashion industry is the one to watch.
Concept Korea is a project to promote the Korean fashion industry and assist them to break into the US market. For more information please go to www.conceptkorea.com
Successful Korean designer Son Jung Wan launches e-commerce site

Son Jung Wan is a fighter. After learning her trade at Sookmyung Women’s University followed by design school at International Mode in Seoul, she opened up a tiny little shop across the street from giant retailer Galleria Department Store. Once there she quietly worked at getting their attention with her gutsy, sexy designs and only a year later had a shop with them. Since then she’s won the Golden Needle award (1993) and was named Designer of the Year (2005) by Seoul Metropolitan. By 2012, after her amazing decision to open that little shop, she had become one of South Korea’s biggest designers, with annual sales of $60 million.
Featured in Korean Vogue and WWD, Son Jung Wan has a loyal celebrity following. She can count Kelly Rutherford, Haley Cuoco, Keke Palmer and Brooke Shields among the women who have worn her designs. While she sells through boutiques across South Korea, Europe, and America, she hasn’t sold anything via internet. This month, Son Jung Wan launched her e-commerce site as stylishly as she does everything else, with champagne mimosas and a commitment to cutting edge creativity. A select group were invited to preview the site and take a closer look at the AW2014 collection, which will be available for pre-sale online.
“I am very pleased to finally bring my designs to the world” said Son. “The internet is such a powerful tool so I wanted to wait until the brand was prepared for this international platform. The e-commerce site will assist in the growth of my brand’s global reach and will be key to the company’s expansion.”
Visitors to the site will be treated to beautiful images and videos of Son Jung Wan’s runway shows in New York and Paris. You’ll be able to shop the Spring/Summer 2014 collection, with prices starting at $750 for a simple day ensemble and up to $3,600 for a more dramatic hand-beaded sequinned dress. The collection for Fall 2014 will include furs at $20,00 plus.
Make yourself a mimosa, open your laptop, and plunge into the world of Son Jung Wan by visitingwww.SunJungWan.com to shop at your leisure, without having to leave the comfort of your home. Enjoy!
The Music of Korean composer Hyo-shin Na celebrated at the Garden Gate, Berkeley
On Friday June 14, 2013 an extraordinary concert took place in Berkeley. The featured artist was Natori Japanese Koto Master Shoko Hikage who was joined by Narae Kwon, on the Korean zither called Kayageum and Thomas Schultz on Piano. It took place in the intimate setting of the Garden Gate Creativity Center in the heart of Berkeley’s Claremont district.
The evening was a portrait concert celebrating the music of renown Bay Area Composer Hyo-Shin Na. Holding a doctorate from the University of Colorado, Hyo-shin Na moved to San Francisco in 1988 where she met Cage, Rzewski, Wolff, Takahashi and encountered the music of Nancarrow.
Hyo-shin Na has written for Western instruments, for Korean instruments and music that combines Western and Asian instruments and ways of playing. Hyo-shin Na has twice been awarded the Korean National Composers Prize and has been widely commissioned.
The concert in Berkeley began with “Night Procession of the Hundred Demons” a composition inspired by the 18th century scroll of the same name by the Japanese painter Toriyama Sekien. Composer Hyo-shin Na was inspired by the wildness and imagination of the painting and thus composed the work based on it. It was skillfully played by Sensei Shoko Hikage on the Japanese koto.
The concert continued with “Koto Music” (2011) of which the composer states “The materials used in this piece are very limited, and there is no development of these materials” . The limited materials were used to good effect and was remenicent of minimalist composers like Glass and Riley. A repeating tone in the middle voicing was the springboard in which motives on higher and lower strings bounced off.
The next piece in the concert “Song of the Firewood” (2010) was a rare treat. A musical delicacy seldom savored: a performance on the rare twenty-five string Kayageum! The Korean kayageum normally has 12 strings and is itself a rarity in the West, but the twenty-five string kayageum is largely unheard. Fortunately, the instrument was brought to the forefront in this portrait concert.
It was deftly played by the gifted Narae Kwon and featured a unique microtonal scale developed by the composer and frought with quarter and one-third sharp tones. Though unfamiliar, its sound was very listenable, a delight to the ears.
“Song of the Firewood” was inspired by a poem by Jaime de Angulo (1887-1950) who was a linguist, poet, and musicologist. The poem reads:
“I am old, twisted, dry. I am cold.
Build the fire.
Heh! heeh-heh. . . he-he-he . . . feel good.
Let the chief call the dancers.”
Like the poetry it inspired Hyo-shin Na’s music started out cold and controlled like wood just begun to kindle and progressively became more out of control as the blaze took shape. One could easily imagine the dancers around the blazing fire as full twenty-five string double-forte sweeps of the kayageum’s strings sent the blaze higher and higher.
The first half concluded with “Five Pieces on Yoshie Hikage’s Poems” (2012-2013). Based on poetry by Shoko Hikage’s mother in her collection of poetry called For the Pink Dianthus. The music had a melancholy feel at times a mood which matched the text well. The poetry was written after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and this theme runs throughout.
The second half of the concert started on a different note and featured the solo piano of Stanford faculty member Thomas Schultz who played two compositions “Near and Dear” (2012) and“Variations” (1990).
The concert concluded with “Chrysanthemum Song” (2012) inspired by a poem by Japanese poet Kaen (1697-1772) and “Echoes of Harmonious Music” (2012) for twelve string kayageum and thirteen string koto. Both pieces were highly significant. The composer brought two very diverse playing traditions together and made them work together seamlessly. Although the Korean kayageum and Japanese koto are both classified as “zithers” the playing style and technique are very different.
In the program notes composer Hyo-shin Na explains: “Echoes of Harmonious Music“, “is written as a quasi-unison piece where the two instruments follow their own nature (kayageum tends to play music in a triple meter whereas koto almost always plays in a duple rhythm; lavish ornamentation is the norm for a kayageum player and almost anathema for the player of the koto) as well as the path of the piece’s melody.”
The compositions worked and the musicians played well together. It sounded like the instruments had always been meant to play together and now they had a vehicle to do so: the music of Hyo-shin Na.
If you would like to continue receiving Asian Music related articles including the latest news, upcoming events, and reviews, please click the subscribe icon. It is free and anonymous. Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing this story with others. To share story ideas or upcoming events send email to asianmusicexaminer at gmail.com.
15 Tips to exploring the LA fashion district
LA’s Downtown Fashion District is full of so many hidden treasures. The Fashion District is made up of 90 blocks, 4,500 apparel and accessory lines, and more than 1,000 stores. Other names for Downtown LA’s shopping area include: Santee Alley, the Garment District, and The Alley. To be a successful Downtown LA shopper here are a few things you should know:
Tip #1: Browse before you buy. Go around and check out all of the shops before you commit to buying from the first store you walked into. Nine time out of ten, you’ll find the exact same thing for half the price just down the street. But don’t think about it too long, new merchandise circulates through these stores every day. Chances are it won’t be there tomorrow.
Tip #2: Cash is king. Most stores only accept cash. Very few accept Debit and Credit cards. Most ATM’s have a $100 limit.
Tip #3: DON’T dress to impress. You will be doing a lot of walking so make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Being a Power Shopper isn’t easy. Also, don’t wear anything that screams “I’m not from here!”
Tip #4: Beware of signs. Some stores are not open to the general public. If a store is only wholesale it may have a sign posted that’s says “Solo Mayreo.”
Tip #5: Bring your Papers. If you have a resale license/ Sellers Permit bring a copy. You can set up accounts with merchants to buy at wholesale costs.
Tip #6: Business Hours. General business hours run from 10am to 5pm. When the shops close it’s like a ghost town, so don’t plan to hang around after hours.
Tip #7: Bargain and Barter. In these areas, no one pays full price. I advise you to do a little bargaining. If you speak Spanish or Korean, that is a plus!
Tip #8: Take business cards. If you come across a little store you like, and plan to go back, take a business card. Chances of finding the store after you’ve been walking all day, are highly unlikely.
Tip #9: Lack of Dressing rooms. FYI, there are no formal dressing rooms. Consider wearing tight fitting tank tops and leggings when you shop, this makes it easy to slip clothes over what you are wearing. If you can’t return it you should make sure it fits.
Tip #10: Final Sales. Most sales are final. So make sure you check garments carefully for damages.
Tip #11: Plan. It is important to plan and be prepared. If you plan to do a lot of shopping it might be a good idea to use a shopping stroller. Don’t forget bottled water, it gets hot out there in the summer.
Tip #12: Restrooms. There are limited restrooms. You can usually use the restroom at the California Market Center. It seems to be the best place, if you have to go.
Tip #13: Parking. Find a parking lot! It will cost anywhere from 15 to $25 to park all day. To avoid tickets, try not to park on the streets if you plan to shop all day.
Tip # 14: Restaurants. Remember the Fashion district is for shopping not eating! There are a few fast food joints in the area, McDonalds, Subway and El Polo Loco. There is a little café located next to the Geary building that has good sandwiches. If all fails, you can always find your way to the cafeteria in the California Market Center. Consider starting your shopping day at Starbucks on the corner of 9th and Santee. There are also several little hotdog stands, if you stop at one, make sure you try the mango and watermelon covered in lime juice and pico de gallo. It’s perfect in the summer!
Tip #15: Get a Map. Be sure to pick up a free copy of theLA Fashion District map guide, or check one out online.Fashion District map
Things you can find in the Fashion District: Shopping, Beauty Supplies Stores, Clothing Stores, Children’s Clothing Stores, Baby Clothes, Clothing Accessories Stores, Formal Wear Stores, Men’s Clothing, Shoe Stores, Athletic Clothing, Costumes, Uniforms, Western Wear, Women’s Clothing Stores, Maternity Clothing, Jewelry, Leather Goods Stores, Flea Markets, Swap Meets, Toys, Used Clothing, Luggage, Custom Clothing, Hats, Buttons, Fabrics, and Perfumes.
Must Know Terms
• Close Outs: The item will no longer be made or sold.
• Overrun: Extra merchandise available after retailers have filled their orders. Are often sold at discounted prices to the general public.
• Retail: Refers to the business of selling goods to consumers of the general public.
• Sample: Product that is made to be shown as the example to wholesale buyers and retailers before product is ordered and large quantities are produced. Womens apparel samples are generally size 4 or 6.
• Seconds: Items with some type of flaw that affects the overall quality or look.
• Solo Mayoreo: Wholesale only. Store is not open to the general public and retail shoppers.
• Wholesale: Refers to the business of selling large quantities of goods, typically to be sold in retail stores.
• Keystone: a markup that generally means double the wholesale price.
• Minimums: a minimum order amount, may refer to quantity or dollar amount.
Links to check out:
• http://www.thesanteealley.com/
• http://www.fashiondistrict.org/
You are now ready to Shop. Enjoy your adventures in the Downtown LA Fashion District!
A preview of Spring 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
The countdown to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has begun. From September 5-12, some of the top designers in the world will show their collections at the tents at Lincoln Center. Some of these designers have offered us a sneak peek of their collections.
In our slideshow you can view the SS14 sketches and inspirations from this year’s “Concept Korea” designers – Kaal E. Suktae, Choiboko, Big Park and Beyond Closet.Concept Korea is a collaborative to promote Korean fashion designers and assist them in their attempts to break into the U.S. fashion market. Concept Korea began in the spring of 2010, and this SS 2014 season marks the organization’s eighth time showing at New York Fashion Week. This season’s Concept Korea presentation will be on Monday, September 9 at 3 p.m. at the Stage. “The collection was inspired by the Bible phrase, “The stone the builder rejected has become the corner stone (Psalms 118:22)”. It features a modern and structural aesthetic which is expressed through architectural motifs (concrete, iron bar, mold) and oversized Y-shape silhouettes in tone on tone fabrics,” said Suk-Tae Lee of his Kaal E. Suktae SS14 collection. Designer Choi Bo Ko, who will be presenting his ChoiBoKo SS14 collection, spoke about his inspirations. “Arirang Punk inspires this collection; represented by the excitement of play and deep resentment – drawing inspiration from modern Korean culture through the use of punk elements such as exaggerated colors and patterns.” Park Youn Soo will be presenting her collection. “The collection focuses on shape and form, silhouette, and pattern. Drawing inspiration from folk art paintings,” she said in statement. Tae Yong Ko, the designer behind Beyond Closet, said “The spring/summer 2014 collection is inspired by everyday views of men working out in gyms. This physical transformation from a gaunt-like state to a more muscular, masculine appearance is represented through classic argyle patterns, and an expansion of Beyond Closet’s “Dog Series”, depicted through prints and embroideries.”
Lubov Azria, Chief Creative Officer of both BCBG andHerve Leger also spoke about the inspirations for both of her Spring/Summer 2014 collections. For BCBGMAXAZRIA, “We were inspired by nature and modern art. Contemporary art inspired the choice of vivid colors, while more muted tones glean inspiration from the natural beauty of the world around us.” BCBGMAXAZRIA’s Spring 2014 Collection will hit the runway on Thursday, September 5 at 10 a.m. This season, BCBG is also partnering with Fashion Delivers for a three-day “Be Chic By Giving” event that will take place in all BCBG U.S. Retail boutiques and select BCBG Canada Retail boutiques from Thursday, September 5 to Saturday, September 7, 2013. On the first day of the event, customers are invited to visit any retail boutique to enjoy a glass of champagne. Throughout the event, for every apparel item purchased, BCBG will donate one item to a regionalized charity supporting women’s empowerment. Receiving charity agencies include Shelter Partnership in Los Angeles, CA, Caring for Others in Atlanta, GA, Connections in Evanston, IL, Women in Need (W.I.N) in New York City, NY, and Women on the Rise in Montreal, Canada. In support of this national event and in celebration of the BCBGMAXAZRIA Spring 2014 Runway Shows, Max and Lubov Azria will be hosting a special event at the BCBGMAXAZRIA Flagship store on 40th and 5th in New York City on Thursday, September 5.
For Herve Leger, Max and Lubov were inspired by “Different cultural and geological references inspire the collection as seen in ancient tribes and tradition.” The Herve Leger presentation will be at the Theatre at Lincoln Center on Saturday, September 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Mara Hoffman said that her collection is all about the colors of the rainbow. “I call this collection “a gang of rainbow warriors”. If there were ever a gang that worshipped rainbows, this is what they would wear!” We are excited to check out her collection at the Stage on September 7 at 2 p.m.
Rebecca Taylor’s Spring/summer 2014 is all about modern romanticism. “Construction details and trims reference early American workwear, with a hint of feminism. Key silhouettes experiment with proportion – cropped tops, full trousers and teacup skirts are paired with soft, modern volume in rounded sleeve shapes. Airy, crisp white poplin shirting and geo eyelet are layered with tactile matelassé, laminated knit, and crystal-encrusted lace. Botanic inspiration is abstracted in prints, with transparent layers of color. Neutrals of palest grey and sage green are balanced with a strong base of cayenne and nude, with a pop of robin’s egg blue,” Taylor said. Rebecca Taylor’s Spring/Summer 2014 Runway Show will be September 7, 2013 at 1:00PM at Center 548.
Tracy Reese’s highly anticipated presentation will be Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m. “Tracy Reesespring 2014 radiates sensuality, energy and optimism with an array of bold, spirited styles infused with Afro-Cuban influences to create an aesthetic full of texture and movement. Balancing fresh, feminine styles and modern sportswear, the collection is rich in detail, including leather and raffia embroideries and authentic athletic accents. Silhouettes range from crop-tops paired with full midi-skirts and cropped trousers to signature fit and flare frocks. Textile highlights include geometric laces, tribal embroideries and bonded technical knits. Prints, always a staple of Tracy Reese collections, include mixed scale gingham and window pane, tropical floral placements and tribal geometrics in a spectrum of pinks, blues, greens and ochre. Building on Afro-Cuban cultural influences, key looks such as a bold lapis and scarlet floral flyaway frock with back ruffle detail, a striped scarlet and black flyaway tee, structured crisp white trousers and fisherman-inspired sandals express the effortless style of the modern woman who is sexy, assured and contemporary” Reese said.
Examiner.com will be all over the scene bringing you coverage of the best presentations. Stay tuned for our coverage!
Vancouver Fashion Week; An International Success
The Fall/Winter 2015 collections of more than 60 designers from around the globe successfully strutted down the catwalk at Vancouver Fashion Week between March 16-22 at Queen Elizabeth Plaza.
Vancouver Fashion Week founder Jamal Abdourahman was, once again, thrilled with the breadth of creative talent from new as well as returning designers. Says Abdourahman: “We love to celebrate the diversity of fashion culture, and Vancouver provides this perfect platform to support emerging talent.”
Amongst the top-returning designers was Noe Bernacelli, whose Peruvian international style and beauty has been greatly received in Vancouver.
Also on the lineup, was Korean designer Hong Kiyoung. Kiyoung is widely recognized for his luxury streetwear, which experiments with silhouettes and colorful prints.
Every season, Vancouver Fashion Week continues to push its boundaries and strives to attract new and emerging designers from across the world.
This season it also welcomed Chinese designer ILOVECHOC, who mixes cute cartoon designs with luxury fabrics. Korean company JUKOjulie, who has been greatly welcomed into the New York fashion scene and designer Paloma Sanchez, who has been recognized as one of the “30 Best Jewelry Designers” in the world.
VFW also continued to support the city’s homegrown talent with the return of local designers Connally McDougall, Grandi’s Atelier and Sara Armstrong. All three designers are local to Vancouver and are inspired by the city.
*Perhaps VFW’s most refreshing designer to show this season was Silver Lake, Oregon’s 15-year-old Kate Miles. Says Kate: “Color and texture has always been a whole other language to me. I read them like poetry. Drape and movement speak to me, and the dress just takes shape in my mind. Ideas lie in everything from a brick wall to a flower in my garden. Sometimes I will sketch it out, but usually I just pick up my scissors and go for it. My designs are always a juxtaposition of vintage with a modern edge. I love taking the delicate fabrics and laces from old garments and paring them with newer and bolder aspects to create something timeless, but exciting.”
As captured in the attached slideshow, designs ran the gamut from showstopping velvet gowns (Paola Gamero) to revealing swimwear (Vitamina) as well as graphic tees (Artees) to spectacular one of a kind jewelry pieces (Paloma Sanchez).
Korean Clothes Leading Spring Street Fashion
.jpg)
The number of Korean clothes are extremely popular style for every season, due to the new and sweet design which preferred among the Asian women of any age. Korea & Japanese online fashion store Korean Japan Clothing.com for you personally brings this season typically the most popular Korean fashion clothes. From some South Korean women to building winter modeling!
Lake blue drawstring hoodie coat jacket cotton jacket, this paragraph, more appropriate for more compact stature slim women, drawstring waist could be modified, putting on a really significant lumbar curve. Cotton coat inside matching knit skirt putting on tights is extremely sweet, cute. Additionally, it can match short knit tops, casual model comparison.
This milk blue coat using the waist from the compact design is nice effect in creating, no significant body fat. Additionally, coat collar from the leopard designs, sweeping away the wintertime color cotton coat monotony, increase the fashion sense. Putting on tight black pants is easily the most significant thin build, footwear with whitened high-top athletic shoes, sports highlights dynamic model.
.jpg)
False two piece set type military eco-friendly coat, handsome and awesome lower, charming characteristics. This handsome style military eco-friendly coat collar design is not so thick and solid, can ride inside turtleneck sweater, relatively warm. And should match jeans oh! Not just considerably thin phenotype and it is very revealing youthful girls’ personality.
Berry color Korean fashion coat, is that this year of winter coat is extremely well-liked by the women of the this past year, is extremely popular this season military eco-friendly cotton coat, berry color cotton is just about the hot money. This coat inside is milky whitened lamb hair, putting on a hot sweater or sweater, in short, there’s a feeling of movement, putting on jeans or tights are personality. This bit of in military eco-friendly coat, extra-large coffee color fur collar design, some exaggeration, but additionally special, consume a vibrant red-colored turtleneck sweater, hit color mix is really the growing season prevalence from the protagonist. Putting on shorts along with a panty is alright.
.jpg)
The military eco-friendly cotton coat is by using snowflake pattern design, this coat with matching choice of casual wind is excellent-searching, inner putting on lemon yellow sweater, put on Jean tights, looks particularly handsome, leisure. In the winter months putting on red-colored clothes is easily the most flattering, festive colors are extremely eye-catching. This red-colored Hooded Coat Jacket once the holiday for putting on is really as well. Matching a brief skirt is lovelier.
Preparation of the all-match base sweater for winter dress collocation can enjoy an essential role inside it, just like a candy striped sweater and plaid sweater, are relatively all-match sweater style. Crush can buy for yourself a couple of sections, with cotton and cashmere coat jacket is alright. Girl inside a red-colored Hooded Coat cleverly take candy striped sweater, black pants, and straightforward style is combined with discloses fashion flavor.
Korean Band Boyfriend To Perform In US Showcase In Dallas

The South Korean sensation band Boyfriend is coming to The Verizon Theater March 11th, 2014. Tickets are on sale now, for $220 Red Zone (VVIP) free latest album + album-signing session & hi-touchwith Boyfriend $160 Yellow Zone (VIP) with hi-touch passes $110 Blue Zone $90 Orange Zone $70 Green Zone. Tickets go on sale January 7th, and can be found on axs.com. Famous for recent K-pop hits like “Janus” and “I Yah”, the band is well known for their debonair fashion, and quick learning of their advanced dance routines. Jo Youngmin and Jo Kwangmin are twins and by the 100th day of training under another company, they had appeared in over 300 commercials. Starship Entertainment released their debut single “Boyfriend”. In response to fans concerned that the group had limited its appeal in mid-2011, Boyfriend changed their choreography for their single “Boyfriend” when appearing on music shows after rehearsing for two days. The concert will be one of many brought to you by Jazzy Group found at www.jazzygroup.com
Kim Jong Un requires North Korean university students to mimic his hairstyle
I hope you like Kim Jong Un’s haircut, North Korean college kid. You’re gonna have to get used to it.
According to a story published by the BBC today, Radio Free Asia is reporting that North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un is now requiring all male university students to get the same haircut as the man they refer to as “Dear Leader.” The new guidelines — a mere suggestion whispered from the barrel of a gun, really — were issued in the capital city of Pyongyang around two weeks ago, and are now being spread around the country.
Turns out that in North Korea, as in America, there are some strong opinions on the distinct look favored by the 31-year-old.
“Our leader’s haircut is very particular, if you will,” the BBC quoted one source as telling Radio Free Asia. “It doesn’t always go with everyone since everyone has different face and head shapes.”
Other sources, such as a former Pyongyang resident now living in China, were even more critical of the style.
“Until the mid-2000s, we called it the ‘Chinese smuggler haircut’,” the presumably fashion-savvy source told the Korea Times.
Despite the similarities to a shady criminal underclass, it’s more likely that “The Kim Jong Un” was originally fashioned as a tribute to his grandpa.
“Kim Jong Un’s haircut is a very particular one, shaved up the sides to make him look like Kim Il Sung did when he was in his 30s (i.e., in the late 1940s),” Bruce Cumings, a Korean history expert from the University of Chicago, told the Washington Post. “This occurred right after Kim Jong Il died, Kim Jong Un was sporting this cut in January 2012 and it was clearly meant to identify him with his grandfather, not his father.”
Regardless of its origins, “The Kim Jong Un” (aka “The Chinese Smuggler” aka “The Kim Il Sung”) will likely be welcomed by those men tired of picking from the 10 state-approved haircuts previously mandated by the socialist utopia. Compared to those looks, the 90’s-by-way-of-the-40’s style of “The Kim Jong Un” is ideal for college-aged kids experimenting with decades-old fashions and irony.
Review: Korean Wind & Stream performance at Ohio State University
Mark Bender, Chair of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature opened the program. He introduced Sungkyu Chris Lee MD as the person that had made this performance series possible. He also introduced Chan Park as the acting Performance Director for this new program under the Institute for Korean Studies. Sungkyu Chris Lee MD is the benefactor of this program after encouragement by Chan Park. Lee studied at the Ohio State University before entering private practice in Columbus, OH. He later became part of the faculty at OSU’s Wexner medical training program.
The program began with Chan Park’s Korean Performance 5400 class on traditional Korean drums and gongs. The group was enthusiastic and consisted of a diverse group of students from several different cultures. Chan Park was their leader, and she is also the professor for this class. You can learn about the variety of types of Korean music and the regions in Korea where various music originates.
The main program was a series of performances of Korean artists. Kim Junghee (changoo – traditional drum) and Ji Yunja (Kayageum 12-string zither) have been designated as cultural treasures in Korea. Lee Byungsang is a virtuoso player of the taegeum, a transverse bamboo flute. Hanna Yun is a classical Korean dancer and principal at the Korean School in Louisville, KY. Yun performed the Saluri dance, which is based upon a song of shamanic cleansing. Chan Park performed Korean stories and plays the six-string komungo zither.
This is the first of the series of Korean cultural programs that will be done at OSU that is sponsored by Dr. Lee under Chan Park’s direction. It was a wonderful introduction to Korean music and singing. The audience was appreciative throughout the program. As future programs are planned, they will be announced.
Trend Spring/Summer 2013 Womenswear
Asian cultures are on the brightest spotlight in spring/summer 2013’s runway. The Asian form, like kimono appears in the modern design of Prada, Etro, Gareth Pugh and Emilio Pucci. The judo suit looks gorgeous in Haider Ackermann and Jen Kao.
The Asian floral and animal come in gorgeous prints. You can see the lovely hibiscus, lotus and peony in Etro, Hermes and Prada. The dragon, phoenix and tiger ornament come in high craft like in Emilio Pucci.
‘Fashion King’: Uglier than Betty

What is laughably called a story starts out with Madam Jo (Jang Mi-Hi) intercepting an acceptence letter from a U.S. fashion school, written to Lee Ga-Yeong (Shin Se-Kyeong). While the 22-year-old Se-Kyeong is beautiful to look at, there is no way in good conscience her performance here can be called acting. The blank, vapid gaze she gives Madam Jo when asking about the mail is the same expression she carries for 90% of the show’s air time. A mannequin would be more expressive.
Director Lee Myeong-Woo should likewise be chastised, not only for not getting more out of Miss Shin, but also for numerous shots of boom mics and camera operators making it onto the screen. Whether this is a sign of artlessness or extreme apathy is anybody’s guess, but it doesn’t change the fact that these are rookie mistakes that shouldn’t have been allowed. There’s a reason for the cutting room floor and Mr. Lee would have done well to have found the rest of his brain and remembered what that reason is.
Both bad acting and directing could have been forgiven had the script been decent. Alas, the writing team of Kim Gi-Ho and Lee Seon-Mi were there to ensure the audience wouldn’t even have that bit of hope to cling to. The plot is as follows: A talented designer girl, Ga-Yeong gets yanked around by a corporate heir and an independent designer, while dodging the machinations of the wicked boss who stole her parents’ business after they were killed. The girl never makes up her mind as to which of the guys she actually likes, but just follows whoever grabbed her wrist last. It ends with a horrific crime, albeit one far less painful than the 20 hours this series killed. That’s it. There’s no character development, no plot development. It’s just 20 hours of the two guys getting in each other’s faces over business and Ga-Yeong, with no point to any of it. To borrow an engineering term, the plot is a GNDN: Goes Nowhere, Does Nothing.
The sad part is that the male leads, Yoo Ah-In and Lee Je-Hoon, are both talented actors with numerous successes. That they were involved in such a miasma of frustration and mind-numbing repetetiveness makes one wonder if they were blackmailed or conned into signing on with the project.
If the rating system allowed, this drama would be rated at -20 out of 5 stars, because it dug an ever-deeper hole with every episode. The only things it is good for are a drinking game and an object lesson on what not to do in television. It’s so terrible, it makes the Godzilla films look like high cinematic art in comparison. For the sake of your intelligence, sanity, and blood pressure, do not watch it under any circumstance.
If you really must see it for yourself, watch it now:
U.S. Only – Hulu Plus ($8/month, includes 720p HD)
U.S. & Canada – DramaFever (option: premium service for ad-free HD)
Worldwide – Viki (Access may vary, includes optional viewer commentary)
Title: Fashion King
Genre: Workplace Romance Melodrama
Director: Lee Myeong-Woo
Screenplay: Kim Gi-Ho, Lee Seon-Mi
Network: SBS
Release Dates: 3/19/2012 – 05/22/2012
Episodes: 20
Korea adoption program changes are analyzed by Korean adoptee
Analysis of improvements to Korea’s adoption program must continue or the program runs the risk of regressing, says Korean adoptee, Shannon Heit, in a Feb. 28 article in The Korea Times.
New Korean adoption laws went into effect in August 2012 in an attempt to help reduce problems in the system and, specifically, to help reduce the number of intercountry adoptions. Korean officials wanted a greater emphasis on in-country foster care and adoptions, making international adoptions a last priority. Only six months have passed and some experts are pushing for a reversion back to the pre-August 2012 state for adoptions from Korea. Such a reversion would be “a step backwards for Korea’s adoption program,” writes Heit.
Heit argues that six months isn’t nearly long enough to study the true impact of the new Korean adoption laws and gives point-by-point responses to common complaints from critics of the new law. Heit pays special attention claims that there’s been a rise in child abandonment in Korea as a result of a law mandating a birth registry.
“While it is being claimed that more babies have been abandoned since last August, there are no statistics to support this beyond the case of one baby box,” writes Heit. “Before trying to revise the law again, a nationwide study should be conducted in order to confirm or negate these claims.”
Korea has long been seen as a stable, efficient and corruption-free program by U.S. families looking to international adoption as a means to build their family. Between 1999 and 2011, 18,605 Korean children were adopted by U.S. families, according to the U.S. Department of State.
As a Korean adoptee, Heit offers a unique vantage point on the Korean adoption program and the impact of the changes made last August. She argues passionately that Korean officials take a long-term look at the impact of international adoption.
“Over the past 60 years, Korea has sent over 200,000 children for adoption, and many of our birth records, like mine, were falsified or altered,” says Heit. “Because of this, the success rate for birth family searches is a mere 2.7 percent. Is Korea going to repeat this record of human rights violations or work to ensure that this never happens again?”
Spending $900 million a year on cosmetics: Korean men?

While it’s usually women that are thought of when it comes to cosmetics and beauty products, it seems these products are starting to cater towards male customers. When Scott Disick was ambushed about wearing men’s cosmetics on an episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” his first response was to deny wearing it, even though he was confronted with Kourtney’s foundation-stained white t-shirt after rubbing close to his face.
However, he later owned up to the fact that he does indeed wear men’s cosmetics and even stated it was something that he was not ashamed of. While this may seem like a drastic statement in the U.S., even for the most metrosexual man, this is not a strange notion in South Korea.
ABC News stated, “South Korea is by far the largest in a growing global market for men’s cosmetics, accounting for nearly a quarter of sales in the skin care market. South Koreanmen are increasingly turning to BB cream foundation and anti-aging products to achieve K-Pop perfection, spending $900 million a year on cosmetics, according to research firm Euromonitor.”
While the biggest sensation out of South Korea has been rapper, Psy, he doesn’t exactly fit the mold when it comes to typical South Korean pop artists. South Korea has a number of male pop artists that are arguably more famous for their pretty boy looks than their musical skills. To adhere to the pretty looks of the K-pop stars and Korean Drama (Korean soap operas) actors, male cosmetics and beauty products have become hugely popular.
It will be interesting to see if this trend will translate to other areas of the globe and whether or not American men will become part of this growing trend.
Feel free to leave a comment on whether or not you’d be willing to openly wear male cosmetics or whether you’d purchase male cosmetics for your significant other.
Designer Series: Fashion creative & educator Young Kim profile

Young Kim isn’t your run of the mill fashion designer. She is a woman with a history and the street smarts to boot. She comes from the school of hard knocks and her ambition and drive have proven that they can take her anywhere. She is on a mission to make an impact in the world that surrounds her, and in the opinion of the CFTE, she is making strides to do just that.
Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Young Kim is a fashion designer, educator, and an interdisciplinary artist. She came to the US on a fine-arts scholarship program by the Korean government. She began her undergraduate studies in Fashion Design Department at Parsons The New School for Design, New York, and completed her bachelor’s degree in fine arts at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago majoring in fashion design.
Life has definitely not been fully glamorous for this fashion professional. In fact it has definitely had its share of hardships for Young, but she never allowed any hiccups in the road called life, hold her back from achieving her dreams. She utilized a move back home to help with family in Korea (that basically put a stop to her education for a while) as an opportunity to gain incredible industry experience. During her time back in Korea, Young was able to make a mark working as a production manager/design liaison for corporations like Ann Taylor, Ellen Tracy, and Ellie Tahari.
When Young finally made her way back to Chicago, she discovered a passion while still completing her bachelor’s degree at the SAIC. Teaching is something that few can truly master and many attempt. Young is one of the few. She has evolved from a designer into a creative and educator. She is preparing the minds of the future as well as creating artwork, installations and fashion for the future.
The CFTE was lucky enough to catch up with her during Chicago Fashion Week and get an insider interview with her to bring to all of you readers! We talked about the Code fashion show her students recently put on and her involvement in the Chicago Fashion Industry. If you are interested and want to learn more about one professional’s journey through the fashion industry read on!
CFTE: Can you tell the readers a bit more about the fashion show your students just put on?
YK: Well, DRESS CODE has been a creative correlation of work between all of the major fashion schools in Chicago. The SAIC, Columbia, Illinois Institute of Art and IADT – Schools have been apart of Fashion Focus since 2004. We’ve always done small events, but all the schools felt strongly about showcasing talent on a professional level. I have been involved in Dress Code for 3 years, 6th Fashion Focus. Fashion Focus is a city hosted event, the city is keeping it local. That was part of the reason why schools felt it was important to be a part of this.
CFTE: As someone who has been so involved in this, how do you feel as you see your student succeed and continue on in the industry?
YK: I have several students who have participated in student competitions and 2 of my students have actually showed a part of Macy’s Incubator Program Showcases. Also, one of the first scholarship recipient of the Chicago Fashion Foundation Scholarship program was also one of my students. I have students who have come full circle in their career and it truly makes me feel so positive about the direction they have gone in and the part I have in all of that.
CFTE: When it comes to the 4 major educational institutions in the area, do you feel we are competitive when it comes to other similar fashion institutions in the so-called fashion capitals of NYC and LA?
YK: That’s a tricky question! That’s because you are faced with this façade of competition in terms of the big names in those area. Somehow, you are graphically challenged. I don’t necessarily think it is fair to critique, say for example, a students work, based on poor fabrications because of the fact that we don’t have great places like MOOD near us and that is a big challenge. However, techniques are most definitely on par. Technically the Chicago students are learning exactly the same repertoire as the East Coast Students. I am now in my 10th year teaching in a post secondary institution and I have seen many of my students move on to big fashion houses like BCBG and Vera Wang as design staff. They have the technical skills, it is just that the location in terms of getting the wholesale product you may need that is readily available in New York, that poses a challenge. Yet, I feel the professionals that they are learning from who have not only schooling in the industry, but real world experience as well, are offering the students a great opportunity for learning.
CFTE: Now, I want to move on and hear more about your ongoing projects. I know you recently talked about moving towards creating a stronger presence in your design and artwork aside from teaching. You already have a thriving design company; can you tell our readers more about those plans?
YK: Well, the brand itself is a special occasion, made to order line. I create gowns, wedding dresses and special occasion dresses for the sophisticated woman who knows what she wants. She is a bit of an older demographic not in her 20’s and she has places to go and be seen. The line is all about the special occasion whether it is a black tie gala or an awards show; I create looks that will meet her very demanding needs.
I actually got my official start as a designer as a senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A local gallery owner purchased my senior collection and one of the looks was worn to the Venice Biannual and that is how I pretty much got my start in my design business. All of my work since then has been through word of mouth. Since I have been able to build my reputation as a responsible and reliable designer, people continued to come back and refer me to others.
CFTE: What is the direction you plan on taking your career in the upcoming years?
YK: I have been a part of post secondary for quite some years now and I love it, I will always want to be a part of it. Yet, lately I am getting more and more demand from my design business and I am at the point in my life where I feel I need to be a little more aggressive with pursuing that. The problems I have faced were that I never really felt I was ready for the leap into running my line full time, but now I feel like it may be the time.
CFTE: What is the kind of direction you will be focusing on?
YK: Well, I won’t be going the traditional route. I have done that. I won’t be releasing a line every season. Where I want to be is a specialty vendor who is made to order. I want to create an experience with my clients as someone they can creatively divulge their goals for their fashion and in turn I can create them specialty garments tailored to their needs. I want to create a special experience and connect on an intimate level with my clients.
CFTE: In this series I want to focus on the entrepreneurship aspect of designers in the industry. Can you tell us a bit about your journey?
YK: I had few breaks in my journey. 97 and 98 was an incredibly difficult time in terms of finance in Asia and I had to take 3 years off from my education to go home and help my family. Yet, I didn’t take that as a blow. I made it a point to pursue industry experience, which is readily available in the manufacturing companies in Korea. I did internships, design work and warehouse work. I also learned through those experiences I had a passion to want to help and make a change.
That is why after an 80-hour workweek, I am here on a Sunday with you to support my board and my students at the Fashion Focus Education Day. Although I faced difficulties, every step of the way was worth it. I learned to survive and came back stronger. I learned through trial and error and I wouldn’t trade a single second of my life. People look at fashion with stars in their eyes and don’t always realize the difficulties the industry challenges them with.
Many students assume that in 2 years after school they going be able to launch this successful line and many go through the motions and just end up discouraged. I think it is important people have to continue to pursue their passion and forge on.
CFTE: What are your goals for the next year for your business?
YK: My major goal is to have a concrete cyber presence for my line so that I can build this brand and have a way to connect
CFTE: What are some tips you can give young students about entering the fashion industry
YK: In life, working hard, being passionate, that is a given! But, fashion has so many facets to learn from. You have to have goals and be open-minded, be open to opportunities and work hard at it. If you do, you can succeed at anything you put your mind to. Take advantage of every opportunity and take criticism with a grain of salt and most importantly learn to be better from it. Take something away from every situation and use it as a learning experience.
CFTE: You are also an artist, how does your creative installation work affect your fashion design?
YK: Well, it is a symbiotic relationship! Art is art whether you are painting, creating music or designing clothing. When it comes to my installation, paper craft and collage work, I am able to transfer skill sets between all three of these styles of self-expression. What I learn from one I can utilize in another.
CFTE: Finally, every piece I write with the examiner relates to trends. Can you give us your quick rundown of how trends work in your design work and places that you find your inspiration?
YK: I think what is important to understand when it comes to trends, is to do your research and understand how it works for you and your customer. When it comes to my work 40% trend comes into my design work and 60% comes from my customer as I do specialty made to order work. Research major publications, fashion sites like WWD and WGSN.
CFTE: Any last remarks?
YK: Keep moving forward and honing in on your skills. You’ll get to where you need to be and most importantly love what you do.




