From The Straits Times    |

South Korea’s capital city is brimming with blogshop fashion, but it also has a large number of rising fashion brands that are worth making the effort to discover on your next trip to K-pop city. 

#1 CRES. E DIM.
www.cresedim.com

If you love the sporty-luxe trend, you’ll adore the pieces from this label by designer Kim Hong Bum. They include baseball shirts, cropped tees, baggy pants and oversized cricket sweaters. You can also check out the designer’s second line, Dim. E Cres., which riff s on the main line with pieces that are more casual, collegiate and affordable (at around half the price of the main label). Shop Cres. E Dim. and its sister label at major department stores in Seoul, like Doota in Dongdaemun.

#2 KAAL E.SUKTAE
www.kaalesuktae.com

Launched by designer Lee Suk Tae in 1997, this womenswear brand is all about well-cut, minimalist pieces with a sporty edge – think oversized neoprene sweatshirts and dresses with cutouts. The brand also has a great shoe collaboration with emerging brand Dusty-Mauve (another label to shop when you’re in South Korea). Get Kaal E. Suktae pieces online at www.openingceremony.us/kaalesuktae – this site ships to Singapore.

#3 BIG PARK 
Younsomi B/D, Dosan-Daero 55Gil #49, Gangnam-gu  
info@bigparkys.com

Designer Park Youn Soo is a favourite of K-pop stars like Raina and Nana from girl group Orange Caramel. Super-cute prints, created by Youn Soo’s two artist sisters, Sooy and Jay, mix well with his sporty-meets-girlie dresses, ruffled skirts, sweatshirts and printed sneakers that are part of a collaboration with Nike Korea.

Where to shop:
Seoul Rare Market
90-12 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

It’s best known for the fact that one of its owners, Kwon Dami, is K-pop star G-Dragon’s older sister. This relatively new multi-label store stocks emerging womenswear and menswear brands, as well as accessories, jewellery, bags, skincare and knick-knacks from South Korea and around the world. The staff speak English, the decor is industrial chic, and prices are mid-range to high. Best buys include those from US brand Clover Canyon, jewellery from Avec New York, and items from South Korean fashion brands Surreal But Nice, Goen J and KYE.

Photos of models: Showbit.com

This story was first published in HerWorld Magazine March 2015.