Models walk during Youser's 2025 S/S collection, designed by Lee Moo-yeol, which opened this year's Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung District, Seoul Tuesday. Courtesy of Seoul Fashion Week

Seoul Fashion Week 2025 S/S kicked off with a bang at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Tuesday, leading to a five-day fashion extravaganza. Now in its 24th edition, this year's event attracted fashion enthusiasts from both within the country and abroad, eager to experience the innovative styles of Korean designers.

The area outside DDP transformed into a sea of bold fashion statements, with stylish individuals showcasing eye-catching outfits and accessories. Press photographers were busy capturing these fashion-forward attendees. The opening show was further elevated by the presence of celebrities and influencers, including members of NewJeans, model Irene, and dancer Lia Kim.

Under the theme of "Fashion and Sustainability," this year's Seoul Fashion Week featured 21 runway shows, presentations, and a trade show highlighting 92 labels. Six newcomers, including Kelly Shin, Cokie and Duckdive, brought fresh energy to the event. Over 120 international buyers from 24 countries were anticipated to attend, eager to explore the latest trends in K-fashion.

Designer Lee Moo-yeol's Youser opened the show with a stunning display of 37 pieces inspired by art, subculture and deconstructionism. The collection was set to a pulsating soundtrack filled with urban energy, featuring car honks and lively chatter.

In line with the event's theme, Hyosung TNC showcased eco-friendly materials and products, including fabrics made from recycled fishing nets. The designer brand PARTsPARTs presented an exhibition centered on zero-waste design and sustainable fashion. Additionally, bottled water brand Jeju Samdasoo launched a resource recycling project, collecting and recycling plastic water bottles used during the event to create new textiles.

A photographer captures images of visitors at 2025 S/S Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

PARTsPARTs

Im Seonoc, a veteran designer who has been running PartsParts since 2011, is hosting a special exhibition where visitors can closely examine garments crafted from a single material — neoprene — and designed with patterns to minimize waste. Additionally, she will conduct reusable bag-making workshops on Friday and Saturday to demonstrate her "zero-waste" experiment and promote sustainable practices among attendees.

Im's iconic brand minimizes fabric waste by designing each piece of clothing with cuts that fit together like Lego blocks. These cut-out "parts" are then glued into seamless garments that can be worn throughout all four seasons.

Im said being a designer is incredibly demanding and made her reconsider the industry's relentless cycle of creation.

"You draw something beautiful, hand it off to a pattern maker, and repeat that process until you die. After doing this for 13 years, I'm so drained that I don't want to do it anymore. It doesn't even sell. Those beautiful clothes in the collection only look good on the runway; no one buys them when they're hanging in a store," said the designer during an interview with The Korea Times at her exhibition at the DDP Design Lab, Tuesday.

While Millennials and Gen Zers appreciate beauty, Im has chosen a different design path than being just beautiful.

"We use square patterns as much as possible for the most basic and simple look with the fewest seams possible. The silhouette is straight. But, humans naturally have curves in their bodies, this type of material (neoprene) allows the body's natural curves and movement to be expressed without the need for excessive design," said the designer, who is known to be the first to lead the reusable bag boom in Korea.

Im Seonoc, creative director of PARTsPARTs, poses during a special exhibition on fashion and sustainability during the 2025 S/S Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung District, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of PARTsPARTs

Regarding the use of neoprene, she mentioned that while many view it as a significant challenge for a designer — especially in a market where trend-sensitive customers often seek garments with a variety of materials like lace and fur — she saw it differently.

Im argues that using a single material is inherently more environmentally friendly.

"Employing a single material creates a closed loop and results in zero waste. If we use various materials for different purposes, there's no guarantee that all of them will be used efficiently. It's better to minimize waste from the start — by using fewer materials — rather than discarding unsold garments," she explained.

She added that cotton, despite its natural origin, isn't necessarily environmentally friendly due to the energy required for its production. In contrast, neoprene offers practical advantages: it bonds easily, doesn't fray, and is wrinkle-free, eliminating the need for ironing. Additionally, neoprene's insulating properties make it suitable for year-round wear, as it can be filled with sponge for added warmth during colder seasons, according to the designer.

"It is resilient and is so durable that customers come back after 10 years asking for repairs. Rather than simply claiming to be eco-friendly, the real focus should be on how consumers can use these durable products sustainably for a long time. That's true sustainability," Im said.