K-Pop Stars in Hanbok Outfits: BLACKPINK, BTS and More, Here’s How the Korean Traditional Ensemble Got a Fashion Upgrade!
With fashion designers’ collaborations with K-pop groups and K-dramas, hanbok garnered international interest. From Blackpink to BTS, we have seen K-pop stars more than once keeping the Korean culture alive through music and fashion.
South Korean fashion has undeniably grown rapidly in the last few decades. Their ‘soft-girl’ take on beauty and the blend of tradition with modernity in style has given fashion a new meaning. As a recently established mecca for music, fashion, beauty and entertainment, it’s safe to say that Koreans are serious about fashion. What makes K-fashion even more remarkable is the K-pop idols. They have never failed to push boundaries when showcasing their sartorial prowess while still keeping it traditional. A case in point is the traditional hanbok outfits. From Blackpink to BTS, we have seen K-pop stars more than once keeping the Korean culture alive through music and fashion.
So, what makes hanbok outfits so special in K-fashion? The word ‘hanbok’ translates to ‘Korean clothes,’ and before the introduction of Western styles to Korea, it was simply everyday wear. Eventually, western clothing overtook hanbok and, in turn, became more of a ceremonial dress reserved for traditional holidays, celebrations and events, such as first birthdays and weddings. But recently, efforts to revive hanbok as clothes to wear on any ordinary day have begun to find success. With fashion designers’ collaborations with K-pop groups and K-dramas, hanbok garnered international interest as Korean culture continues to dominate the global stage.
Blackpink
In a 2020 music video, "How You Like That," the fierce female quartet Blackpink appeared in stunning, modernised hanbok, inviting curiosity from fans in Korea and around the world. The outfits were created by fashion designer Danha Kim, who also dressed many famous K-drama stars. Soon, viral videos of Blackpink fans took over the internet with their modern take on traditional clothing.
Watch Video: Blackpink's 'How You Like That’
Coachella Festival 2023
The girl group did not stop there. They headlined the Coachella Festival 2023 in four modern hanbok outfits at the beginning of their performance on stage. The Blackpink Coachella hanbok was customised by the Korean pattern design brand OUWR and traditional dressmakers Kumdanje.
Blackpink at 2023 Coachella Festival
BTS
The Bangtan Boys (BTS) are currently completing their mandatory service. But no recall of K-Pop fashion moments can be complete without the boy band! Time and again, the seven members have shown up in stylish hanboks as an upgrade to men’s fashion. The band has never lost touch with its roots.
Watch Video: BTS in Traditional Hanbok Outfits
Oneus
Oneus’ commitment to weaving Korean culture into their music sets the band apart. During their "Luna" promotions, the five-member boy group’s marvellous set combined the song’s mix of modern music with traditional Korean instruments, including their exquisite modernised hanbok garb.
Watch Video: Oneus' 'Luna'
Sustainable
Unlike Western outfits, original hanbok designs produce less waste. While much of Western clothing, where draping and fitting on a three-dimensional mannequin is crucial for creating a garment, a hanbok is cut and sewn on a flat surface. This helps to reduce the amount of fabric going to waste. In 2020, Kim Danha told the New York Times that the hanbok’s straight lines “waste less fabric than, for instance, the rounded collar of a T-shirt.”
While K-fashion boasts a wide range of designs that embrace aesthetics, one factor that outshines them is its unique blend of modern and traditional elements inspired by Korean trends and history. And hanbok is ruling the charts!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2024 10:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).