Korean Hanbok Fashion Design

Hanbok is the popular traditional clothing and represents the culture. It has been known for its vibrant colors and elegant silhouettes.The top part of it is called a jeogori, which is blouse-like with long sleeves. Men wear longer version of it, stretching down to the waist. Women wear skirts (chima) while men wear baggy pants (paji).

THE MODERNIZATION OF HANBOK FASHION

Despite its domestic rarity, hanbok has begun to appear on international runways, As hanbok gains global exposure, restrictions affecting the way it was traditionally worn have begun to break down. Certain styles, hats, and colors were constructed solely for men, while other pieces and patterns were reserved for women – but the gender divide is disappearing in modern interpretations. For example, all-red hanbok traditionally associated with masculinity and royalty have been adopted by modern designers to suit women’s fashion while still maintaining the color’s assertive, majestic impression (right).

Other hanbok designs and hues used to distinguish between social classes are being reinterpreted for a class-free society. The color white, historically worn by the common classes, has now been appropriated for women’s fusion wedding hanbok (previous page).

DECONSTRUCTION OF THE HANBOK

To understand the modernization of hanbok, the artistic and functional importance of each piece should first be outlined and understood:

Jeogori : Top part of the hanbok that includes a long ribbon-tie

Chima : Large skirt worn under the jeogori. Men’s hanbok features baji pants.

Kotshin: Women’s shoes, meaning literally flower shoes.

Gat : Traditional men’s hat.

Binyeo : Traditional headbands, headdresses, and hair pins, which are diverse in range and color

SIGNIFICANCE OF COLOR

These days, some people tend to break out the hanbok only for special occasions such as weddings, funerals, first birthdays and major family gatherings. While in the past, hanbok colors carried important implications, such as class, these days the choice of color is more about what suits the wearer and the wearer's situation the best, rather than reflecting status. Still, some rules apply. Natural dyes are the most beautiful.The colors come out more subdued and the natural dyes can also be used to go darker to make a point. Our ancestors truly made hanbok as works of art. The colors are most beautiful when natural. According to the design team, lighter, pastel colors are best suited for warmer months, while deeper colors are more popular during colder months.

THE EIGHT BEAUTIES OF HANBOK

The hanbok rules of beauty are very tight and come from a millenary tradition. As all the other eastern costumes, every part of the dress has a mystique meaning, overcoming the simple exterior.

The eight beauties are:

• The beauty of the structure

• The beauty of form

• The beauty of creativity

• The beauty of harmony

• The beauty of colors

• The beauty of nature

• The beauty of empty space

• The beauty of personal character

Although contemporary variations of the hanbok have added floral prints and monotone palates into the mix, traditional primary colors commonly found in nature such as red, blue, green and yellow as well as black and white were used in the color scheme. Each shade conveyed a different meaning and the complements between the tones expressed the harmony of yin and yang. Compatible with any body type and designed for maximum mobility, the subtle shadows created by a hanbok’s movements highlight one’s naturally flowing silhouette.