In September, during Seoul Fashion Week, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the entire city was transformed into a catwalk: shows were held against the backdrop of Seoul's most atmospheric locations, embodying the city's multifaceted identity and symbolizing its youth, energy, and creativity.

Over the past quarter century, Korean fashion has carved out a special place for itself in the global fashion industry, becoming the embodiment of a harmonious fusion of technology and art&mdash;everything that we understand under the catchy name K-Fashion.

A lovely and pleasant parallel for Latvia: the work of our great compatriot Mark Rothko was the source of inspiration for the collection of one of Korea's leading brands, ADSB Andersson Bell. Brand designer Kim Do-hoon combined the color combinations so familiar to us from Rothko's works with the bold style of the 90s &mdash; a nostalgic era of grunge, rebellion, and the iconic images of musical idols of the time &mdash; PJ Harvey and Jarvis Cocker. Layered silhouettes, deconstructed cuts, and combinations of the incongruous &mdash; all this requires extraordinary talent, which Andersson Bell has once again brilliantly demonstrated.

The SS26 collection from Sling Stone reimagines historical silhouettes through a contemporary lens, creating a sense of continuity between the past and the present. A few years ago, the Sling Stone collection, inspired by the image of Archangel Michael's army, became one of the most lyrical and memorable moments in the history of Seoul Fashion Week. The same can be said about this year's collection, executed mainly in black and white, transporting the viewer's imagination to the 1950s and 1960s and including references to Korean culture &mdash; in particular, traditional Korean handmade hanji paper, which is made from mulberry bark and hibiscus fibers.

The debut collection of the brand New Wave Boys at Seoul Fashion Week was named N/A &mdash; as is well known, this status is used to indicate the absence of information: &ldquo;Not applicable, not relevant,&rdquo; but in addition, N/A also refers to the meaning of &ldquo;I&rdquo; in the Korean language. These contradictory philosophical questions &mdash; the search for one's &ldquo;I&rdquo; in emptiness and uncertainty &mdash; resulted in the search for new forms and a rethinking of traditional clothing styles and elements.

Inspired by movement and dynamism, the LIE spring-summer collection explores themes of challenge, energy, and freedom, offering a contemporary athleisure aesthetic that designers have adapted for modern life. The collection's main focus is on movement-optimized cuts and signature three-dimensional silhouettes that express both dynamism and fluidity. The color palette strikes a balance between bright neon shades and muted natural tones, conveying a sense of vitality and calm.

Modern life constantly calls for visibility. Embellished appearances instead of reality on social media, performance instead of presence, the illusion of virtual communication instead of real life. Living for show turns us into exhibits on display. The brand Ulkin explored this complex theme through details: fabrics that frame the body, clothing edges that symbolically restrict movement, and textures that are transparent and mirror-like, like a smartphone camera. It's a collection that makes you think.

The Doucan brand's collection, entitled Lucid Bloom (Lucid means clarity and awareness, while Bloom refers to a blossoming bud), expresses a dreamy, relaxed state of awakening and celebrates femininity, fluidity, and tenderness. Soft textures, hypnotically shimmering pearls, flowing silhouettes, and layers&mdash;a beautiful dream from which you never want to wake up.

The Greedilous brand collection is inspired by the musical Annie, especially the famous song &ldquo;It's the Hard Knock Life.&rdquo; Bright psychedelic colors and plush toys sewn onto the clothes are imbued with the rebellious spirit of Generation Z, which is shaping a new culture and creating a new identity &mdash; just like the characters in the musical, who, like today's youth, grew up in harsh economic and social realities. &ldquo;We were raised by chaos, and we turned it into couture.&rdquo;

The problems faced by today's young people are also a concern for another brand, Ajobyajo. The new collection, which models presented on the catwalk wearing makeup imitating bruises, is dedicated to a disconnected and unheard generation, its isolation and anger, anxiety and despair, unspoken rage and invisible pain, silent lips and screaming minds.

SIMONA SHULMAN, fashion analyst, lecturer, fashion week reviewer
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SEOUL FASHION WEEK

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