Capturing the Essence of Tradition - Liesl's 'Heritage Collection' with Actress Kim Tae-ri

Actress Kim Tae-ri and Leesle's "Heritage Collection"

Actress Kim Tae-ri and Leesle's "Heritage Collection" <Heritage Collection 2024> '2024 Hanbok Wave' X Marie Claire X Leesle

I met Leesle's designer, Hwang Yi-seul, in her studio, where the cold winter sunlight streamed in. Surrounded by Hanbok design sketches covering the walls and a variety of fabrics in jade and blue hues, she was meticulously working on a new piece. Although Leesle is known as a modern Hanbok brand, it surprisingly began as a traditional Hanbok shop.

"Watching the traditional Hanbok market gradually shift towards rentals, I started to worry about the future of Hanbok culture. I wanted to create Hanbok that everyone could easily wear." Leesle, born from this desire, has been loved for its modern Hanbok designs. However, a longing for traditional Hanbok always remained in her heart. This Heritage Collection is the culmination of that long-held aspiration.

The first meeting with Kim Tae-ri was special in itself. "Initially, I suggested a lovely pink Hanbok reminiscent of the ‘Miss Sunshine’ character. However, the actress suggested the keyword ‘alluring,’ expressing her desire to showcase the profound beauty of Hanbok." We carefully exchanged opinions, considering every detail—color, material, shape, and accessories. "Despite her busy schedule, we exchanged design feedback several times and developed the designs together. It was a moment where I felt her sincerity and affection for Hanbok."

"I wanted to express the depth of our culture by meticulously unraveling each thread." The first piece is inspired by An Jung-sik’s ‘Seonsan Nugaekdo’ from the late Joseon Dynasty. The landscape painting, meticulously rendered on premium silk using precise printing, evokes a single painting. The pleats of the skirt and the unraveling detail at the hem are particularly noteworthy, completed through hundreds of hours of handwork.

The second piece is inspired by the floral patterns found in the square glass lanterns of the Joseon royal family. The voluminous silhouette of the seven-panel skirt and the Sangbakhahu (upper-narrow, lower-wide) line maximize its traditional beauty. "I wanted to capture the image of strolling through a royal garden. So, I arranged the floral patterns lavishly across the entire skirt and used a plain underskirt to enhance the skirt’s volume."

All pieces used the highest-quality silk and Hanji (Korean paper) silk. Dozens of tests were conducted for the landscape and floral pattern printing. "There were countless trial-and-error attempts for each color and pattern. It wasn’t easy to implement the inherent elegance of Hanbok using modern technology. In particular, it was difficult to express the texture, grain, and natural blurring as if a person had directly used a brush." All accessories, including the Norigae (ornament), Cheopji (brooch), Garakji (ring), and shoes, were custom-made. This meticulous process resulted in the highest level of production and cost among the costumes Leesle has worked on.

"Actress Kim Tae-ri showed great interest in each accessory. I also put in a lot of effort to create accessories that matched the Hanbok’s elegance. The jar and straw mat used as props in the photo shoot are also works by renowned artisans. Thanks to the careful preparation of each detail—accessories, props, location scouting, and hair and makeup—we were able to further enhance the quality of the work." In addition to the two outfits worn by Kim Tae-ri, six more pieces from this collection will be unveiled. They say they’ve made various attempts, from a mini-dress using the floral pattern of a traditional Korean window lattice to a modern reinterpretation of men’s Hanbok. "All eight Hanbok Wave collections will be released after December 27, including the Seonsan Nugaekdo Hanbok and the Royal Garden Hanbok worn by Kim Tae-ri, a men’s version of the Royal Garden Hanbok, and a Hanbok dress version that popularizes the Royal Garden Hanbok." - Hanbok Wave Official Website https://hanbokwave.com/ - Leesle Official Website https://www.leesle.com/

Pre-orders for the two Heritage Collection pieces worn by Kim Tae-ri will begin on January 8. Currently, in response to numerous requests, they are preparing accessories such as scarves and Danggi (traditional Korean hair ornament) using the Seonsan Nugaekdo and floral patterns. The sales of the six additional pieces of the ‘2024 Hanbok Wave Leesle Heritage Collection’ other than the outfits worn by Kim Tae-ri will be decided depending on the response.

2024 Dubai Collection Fashion Show / Provided by Leesle

The response from overseas is also enthusiastic. Encouraging comments in English from international fans and praise for the beauty of the Hanbok are pouring in. Demonstrating the passion of international K-wave fans, at the 2024 Dubai fashion show, purchase inquiries flooded in immediately on-site. "Many international customers want to buy Hanbok but don’t know where or how to purchase it. They need clear guidance on sizing, washing, and how to wear them." To address this, Leesle consistently posts English content on SNS, providing a variety of information, from how to wear Hanbok to how to care for it. They are also preparing to enter the New York fashion show next year. "I hope Hanbok will no longer be clothing worn only on special occasions, but a culture that people naturally enjoy in their daily lives. I want Hanbok to become a fashion genre." The winter sun sets outside the studio window. New Hanbok stories continue to bloom from her fingertips. Leesle’s journey of connecting tradition and modernity continues.

Leesle is a leading brand that is highly praised for raising Hanbok to the level of mainstream fashion. Having participated in Milan Fashion Week 2023 and spearheaded the globalization of Hanbok, Leesle is receiving industry accolades for opening a new horizon for K-fashion with its recent rapid growth in overseas sales. *Official Website https://www.leesle.com/ *Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leesle *Inquiries 070-4218-2293 admin@leesle.com Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism @mcstkorea Korea Craft & Design Foundation @kcdf_insta Hanbok Promotion Center @hackr.official Marie Claire @marieclairekorea Actress Kim Tae-ri @kimtaeri_official Hanbok Leesle @leesle @hanbok_leesle Maison de Yoon (Jewelry) @maison_de_yoon - This project was conducted in collaboration with the ‘2024 Hanbok Wave’ project hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, and <Marie Claire> Korea @marieclairekorea.