The Korean trend designers behind Jennie’s ‘Ruby’ look

Left: Jennie makes use of the higher structured a part of Leje recorded with Nacar inlays in her music video for “Seoul Metropolis”, launched on April 26. Jennie: Jennie makes use of specifically designed metallic ladies impressed by the higher a part of the alleged crown utilized by the Korean chair dynasty (57 ECB A 935 CE). [SCREEN CAPTURE]

[INTERVIEW]

The pursuits of your It’s a frequent praise for ladies in Korea: demure, elegant, restricted. However Leje, a daring younger label of Korean designers, favored by the Ok-Pop Jennie icon, is a standard supreme trend problem by utilizing outdated weapons to struggle a brand new conflict.

Fusing Heart Centenary crafts with daring silhouettes, the 5 -year -old model reinvents the way forward for Korean feminine identification so extravagant.

His interpretation of femininity caught the eye of Blackpink member, which is understood to be very meticulous together with his trend. Leje dressed her for 2 of her current musical movies, “Zen” and “Seoul Metropolis”, a part of the primary solo album of the artist, “Ruby”.

Jennie makes use of the higher metallic half specifically designed with Leje impressed by the alleged crown utilized by the feminine leaders of the Korean Chair Dynasty (57 BC to 935 CE) in her music video of “Zen” launched on January 25.

For “Zen”, an attenuating tune about Jennie’s inventible aura, Leje’s designers turned to the chair dynasty (57 BC to 935 AD) and her legendary feminine leaders, Wonhwa. His key inspiration, a golden decoration that’s presumed to be his crown, was reinterpreted in a sculptural higher half, imagining Jennie because the legendary chook of Bermellones: ethereal, fierce and phoenix.

The 2 metallic horns of the crown are stretched vertically just like the wings of a fantastic chook on Jennie’s head. Its intricate material are constructed with greater than 1,000 welded artisanal metallic ornaments, a standard ship often known as Yeongrak.

Jennie’s Prime in “Zen” designed by Leje. It was impressed by the alleged crown utilized by the feminine leaders of the Korean Chair Dynasty (57 BC to 935 CE), Wonhwa. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Leje pants utilized by Jennie within the music video of “Zen”, an avant-garde interpretation of Salchang Kojaengi de Korea, that are underwear utilized by the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) through the summer time, beneath his hanbok (conventional Korean gown). [LEJE]

The decrease a part of the identical outfit is a tribute to Kajang Calaciprimarily underwear utilized by Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) ladies through the summer time, beneath their Hanbok (Conventional Korean gown). The designers gave him an avant -garde quantity and added gold and jade particulars.

Jennie’s brilliant black and white tube within the “Seoul Metropolis” music video, a mushy tune about Seoul’s vitality and its reference to the town, was constructed with a Three-D-printed base, then recorded with lacquer and lacquered inlays.

“Korean magnificence shouldn’t be restricted to being reserved and stylish,” Leje’s designers mentioned in a current interview with the Every day of Korea Joongang. “As historical past ought to have it, it is usually glowing exaggerated and opulent.”

Jennie makes use of the higher structured of Leje recorded with Nácar inlays in her music video for “Seoul Metropolis”, launched on April 26.

Leje, which implies “the I” in French, was shaped by two formidable high fashion followers, Je Yang-Mo, 37, and Kang Ju-Hyeong, 32, who met as candidates for trend designers in Paris.

“They have been our variations, each in persona and talent, what joined us,” mentioned Je, a self -proclaimed historical past fan with ardour for the traditional Korean crafts. Kang, extra element oriented by nature, has a watch for silhouettes, and creatively deconstructed leiso constructions are actually a model agency.

The designers of the Trend Model Leje, Je Yang-Mo, on the left, and Kang Ju-Hyeong, signify images earlier than the interview with the Journal Journal Jaongang of their exhibition room in Jung District, Central Seoul, on April 23, 2025.[PARK SANG-MOON]

None got here from a design fund. Je studied Chinese language at highschool; Kang skilled as a trumpeter.

For each, the high fashion of the early 2000s, such because the luxurious Dior of John Galliano exhibits, captivated them to enter trend.

They barely spoke French, however they moved to Paris anyway, attending the language college earlier than enrolling in trend packages. Je went to Berçot studio and had labored in Lanvin and Balmain earlier than founding Leje, whereas Kang joined simply after graduating from Esmod Paris.

Its first capsule assortment, which the couple started casually, made its method on the opening ceremony of a selective trend retailer and the Luxurious Warehouses Harvey Nichols.

“As soon as we knew what we have been engaged on, there was an urgency to create extra,” Kang mentioned.

Leje designers are making use of Laquer within the brilliant white and white tube lid that Jennie makes use of within the “metropolis of Seoul” of the artist. [LEJE]

Leje shortly discovered his model identification in sustainability and historic crafts.

A craftsman works on the swimming of the protagonist’s swimming in Jennie’s brilliant black and white tube within the “Seoul Metropolis” music video. [LEJE]

His collection “On the pink carpet”, for instance, makes use of the standard silky folding screens of Korea, most of that are deserted in the present day. The designers sought these all through the nation, typically made by unknown artisans, eradicated the mildew, cleaned the material after which included them into the brilliant pink miniskirts of Leje and the Tops Bustier for the latest assortment of 2025 F/W.

Leje additionally just lately collaborated with a metallic craftsman, Duseokjangwhich makes equipment and mangoes for conventional Korean furnishings.

A glance from the 2025 F/W assortment of Leje incorporates the standard silky folding display screen stuffed with Korea. [LEJE]

A glance from the 2025 F/W assortment of Leje presents equipment and artisanal metallic handles for conventional Korean furnishings with a structured gown. [LEJE]

“These conventional handicrafts have solely ornate magnificence, which is what first us in them, however whereas we labored with the outdated artisans of those crafts, we realized how dedicated their work was,” he mentioned.

Since then, they’ve been a part of the Leje mission to take care of the work of those artisans.

“Within the Korean trend scene, even fundamental crafts, which could be extremely complicated, luxurious and ornate, is at risk,” mentioned heard. “There should not even many individuals who harvest easy. The bulk are aged, typically of their 60 years or extra, and no new technology is keen to study and proceed the work.”

A glance from the 2025 F/W assortment of Leje incorporates the standard silky folding display screen stuffed with Korea. [LEJE]

Such an effort is equal to creating items that problem the style that concurrently really feel trendy and timeless. Whereas Korean trend is acquainted to the world with extra transportable manufacturers equivalent to Martin Kim, Amomento and Dunst, Leje stands out as one which fuses the excessive trend of the catwalk with the long-lasting trendy spirit of the nation, which, for many who know with Ok-Trend, Korean marks are so efficiently captured. Its dedication to sustainable supplies, minimal chemical use and Korean crafts add distinctive nuances and pushes inventive limits.

A glance from the 2025 f/w assortment of Leje [LEJE]

A glance from the 2025 f/w assortment of Leje [LEJE]

At present, Leje’s items are fashionable amongst Ok-Pop stars, equivalent to Jennie and Enhypen, in addition to influential and fashionistas in Europe and the Center East. However their daring designs and their vivid use of coloration have been comparatively much less gross sales among the many public of their most conservative hometown, the place dressing effectively typically means dressing effectively.

“Tpo-time, place, occasion-is a rule of Korean trend and a standard English jargon right here, however in actuality it doesn’t exist within the English-speaking world,” mentioned heard.

Equipment of the 2025 s/s assortment of Leje [LEJE]

For ladies who put on Leje’s garments, designers need to believe in every place or state of affairs, saying that they don’t imagine that their garments are “just for events.”

Kang expects: “In case you go to an necessary occasion, work or the grocery retailer, we wish them to really feel like the principle character and inform the world: ‘Why not?'”

By Lee Jian [[email protected]]