From The Straits Times    |

SEOUL – “Life is short, PartspARTs is long,” says Korean fashion designer Im Seonoc about her brand PartspARTs. This very conceptual description of what could simply be described as women’s clothing comes from the designer’s background of working in film, art and contemporary dance; something that could clearly be seen at her show for the brand’s Autumn Winter 2014-15 collection at Seoul Fashion Week.

partsparts aw14 at seoul fashion week DECOR MAINPartspARTs Autumn Winter 2014-14 at Seoul Fashion Week.
Image: Niki Bruce using Samsung NX30 camera

Opening with a piece of modern dance on a split, oddly edged runway, the collection offered up a series of looks that were both avant-garde, but also extremely covetable; especially for people who like to stand out from the crowd, and likewise have a penchant for minimalism and modern materials.

In fact, that’s exactly how Im describes PartspARTs, as being “minimal avant-garde”. The pieces are also completely created from neoprene – a material the designer has long worked with; even the colour palette was minimal consisting mainly of black, grey and white, with only touches of pink, green and metallic embossing.

However there were some fabulous prints, invoking scenes from nature, or a minimal print of dots; these additions plus one coat that had a fabulous back of painted faux fur added a sense of playfulness to what could have otherwise been a very severe collection.

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All neoprene but featuring interesting prints (above top far right) and metallic embossing (above) at PartspARTs Autumn Winter 2014-14 at Seoul Fashion Week. Images: Niki Bruce using iPhone

Although other Korean designers had featured neoprene and its like – most noticeably Cres. E Dim – for AW14, Im’s exclusive passion for the fabric is almost fanatic in its application. There was the typical foam-like version, plus a thinner type that almost looked like a tencel or poly of some sort that was used to great effect in a long shirt dress.

partsparts aw14 at seoul fashion week DECOR 1The thinner neoprene used for PartspARTs Autumn Winter 2014-14 at Seoul Fashion Week. 
Image: Niki Bruce using Samsung NX30 camera

What most stood out, however was Im’s rigorous application of her linear or “flat” construction – the designer says that the idea is to work with “innovative manufacturing methods [and] systems [to] minimise waste by using a flat pattern and single material based on PartspARTs’ philosophy, ‘make a 0% waste’.”

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PartspARTs Autumn Winter 2014-14 at Seoul Fashion Week. 
Images: Niki Bruce using Samsung NX30 camera

Despite what could be a rather limiting concept, the designer continuously stretches the boundaries of what fashion garments should be. In her collection for AW14 based on the concept of the mix between the art movements of Modernism and Anti-Modernism, she showed dresses, coats, pants, jackets, gilets, and some absolutely outstanding bags – another item PartspARTs is known for and certainly its best-selling item.

partsparts aw14 at seoul fashion week DECOR BAGOne of the stunning bags from PartspARTs Autumn Winter 2014-14 at Seoul Fashion Week. 
Image: Niki Bruce using Samsung NX30 camera

PartspARTs is certainly not for everyone, but in a season of streetwear-influenced wearable collections from the bulk of Seoul’s fashion labels, the brand was a stand-out for its uncompromising vision. PartspARTs Autumn Winter 2014 is a collection that is as much about art, as it is about fashion; if not more so.

For more information about PartspARTs, go to parts-parts.kr. You can buy selected items from the brand in Singapore at Front Row, located at The Raffles Hotel Arcade, #02-08/09. 328 North Bridge Road. You can follow PartspARTs on Instagram at @partsparts. And if you’re in Seoul, visit the showroom at IMSEONOC Showroom, 208-40 Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tel: +82 3443 3937. For more information about Seoul Fashion Week, go to www.seoulfashionweek.org. You can follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seoulfashionweek and on Instagram at @seoulfashionweek