Monday, May 5, 2008

busan fashion

Fall Fashion at Pret-a-Porter Busan


A model wears a crystal-encrusted evening gown by top designer Andre Kim, at the opening fashion show of the Pret-a-Porter Busan, Tuesday.
/ Courtesy of Pret-a-Porter Busan
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Busan ― Eleven Korean and foreign designers presented their fashion forecast for fall and winter during the three-day Pret-a-Porter Busan (PAP Busan), which ended Thursday.

Top Korean designer Andre Kim unveiled his fall/winter collection with a star-studded fashion show featuring his distinctive and romantic evening gowns.

Kim said his collection is inspired by Korean and other Asian royal sculptures, as well as elaborate designs during the Byzantine and Renaissance eras. ``My garments display intellect and cultural grace. As the warm beauty and cultural mystique are alive and existing, my work gracefully and intellectually connects the lives of people around the world," Kim said.

Paris-based Spanish designer Theresa Flores made her Korean debut with a simple yet utterly feminine collection. Her luxurious pieces were characterized by bold draping, billowing sleeves and ribbons.

``My collection is designed with soft materials with simple colors as its base. This collection is a purely feminine line with occasional masculine touches that stand out," Flores said.


Paris-based designer Theresa Flores made her Korean debut at the Pret-a-Porter Busan, Wednesday, with a collection featuring bold draping and feminine designs.
/ Courtesy of Pret-a-Porter Busan
Japanese designer Kohshin Satoh chose ``From Russia With Love" as the theme for his brand Arrston Volaju's collection. He mixed tough details and heavy materials like wool, fur and leather, creating an avant-garde Russian look for men and women.

French designer Christophe Guillarme, who participated in the PAP Busan last year, returned with another bold collection. This season's casual but chic collection, he said, was inspired by the glamorous era of the 1920's. Models wore mini-dresses in vibrant prints and colors, as well as slinky, figure-hugging gowns.

``This season's colorful range is voluntarily minimalist with old pink, faded colors or acid pastels counterbalanced with a bright garnet and chocolate satin," Guillarme said.

Chinese designer Liu Wei offered bejeweled evening gowns in yellow and white, as well as flirty spring dresses. There were touches of Chinese inspiration, from the inky prints to glittering embroidery.

Gioia Pan, Taiwan's ``Queen of knitted wear," sprinkled Swarovski crystals on her knitted dresses and evening gowns. Pan's classic and elegant designs enhance women's curves.
The PAP Busan is also a chance for Korean designers from Seoul and Busan to show off their current designs. The Korean designers presented a good balance of edgy and commercial designs for fall and winter.

Lee Moon-hee created a dark, gothic-inspired collection, featuring a lot of black, fur, lace and ruffles. Inspired by a strong yet feminine rocker, Lee's designs included lush fur coats, slim-fitted trousers and romantic tops.

Seoul-based designer Ha Seng-beg follows the futurism trend, with his collection inspired by a futuristic Indian and Japanese ninja. Models walked the catwalk wearing shiny gold coats, oversized jumpers and edgy slim-fitting jackets.

``My inspiration came from a mix of fun colors that you find in American Indian garments and the secretive ninja's garb," Ha said.

Kim Dong-soon showed an ethnic-inspired collection for modern women in their 30's to 50's. She said this season's collection is a well-balanced mix of bold and extravagant details with moderate shapes and colors.

Husband-and-wife team Lee Jong-chul and La Sae-young, who are based in Busan, showed mix-and-match looks under the theme ``macho woman" for their brand Duo.ze. It was an eclectic collection; featuring pinstriped trousers, purple puffy jackets, motorcycle jackets and printed tops.

Jo Myung-rye created haute-couture gowns in different tones of brown, violet, green, beige and gold. Jo said she strives to create an elegant, timeless style for her designs.
PAP Busan, organized by Model Center International, is held twice a year during spring and fall. Model Center International president Toh Shin-woo said the event is becoming a truly international fashion event with the increasing presence of foreign designers.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

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