FASHION FEATURE 2
Next In Fashion’s champion, Minju Kim, talks exclusively to MEGA about her struggles and breakthroughs and the importance of Asian representation in the world of fashion
Next In Fashion’s Minju Kim talks to MEGA about the importance of Asian design talent
The power of Asia was much talked about the beginning of the millennia. From increasing purchasing power to becoming the head of creative powerhouses, everyone was suddenly looking to the East as the future of commerce. From the ones who paved the way such as Josie Natori, Rei Kawakubo and Bibo Mohapatra, to new comers like Sandy Liang, Han Chong of Self-Portrait and Laura Kim of Monse and Oscar de la Renta, Asia is clearly dominating the world of fashion. A recent entry to this Asian powerhouse list is the winner of Netflix hit reality show Next In Fashion, Minju Kim.
A rising design star in Korea, Kim has been dressing K-Pop superstars like BTS and Red Velvet. She has also won H&M Design Award as well as being shortlisted for the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers back in 2014. In a surprising move she joined Next In Fashion in the hopes of becoming a household name in Korea. What she got was definitely more than what she dreamt of: $250,000 cash prize, becoming a featured designer on global luxury store Net-A-Porter and the likes of Gigi Hadid sending praise in her DMs. Since the show debuted, the design star has gained more than 300,000+ instagram followers and her collection sold out, not only on Net-A-Porter but even in Singapore-based retailer SocietyA.
But before all these accolades, Kim was torn between focusing on her first love, drawing, and fashion. She would always mention her love of watching and drawing manga and that is where she started her love for art. The conflict came when she was studying fashion design in Antwerp, Belgium. “When I was studying in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, I was still doubting my choices—is studying design my path or should I just focus on drawing?” she recounts, via an email interview. “I found it hard to combine both things that I loved until I met Walter Van Beirendonk.” In her design journey, It was her professor, Van Beirendonk, who pushed her to bring out her best work and find her own style in design. “To find my own style, I had to draw so many graphics and sketches. I practiced so hard to move graphics to my fabric and ultimately the clothes I create. I absolutely enjoyed this process. Finally, I was having fun!” she quips.
In many of Kim’s moments in the show, it was evident that it was her sister who made sure that the Minju Kim name was first and foremost a business. Although it was a struggle to combine creativity and commerce in the beginning, Kim states that design is only a small part of the overall brand. “Passion is important but at the end of the day, the reality is you have to sell what you create,” she said matter-of-factly. This kind of maturity made her appreciate the people she works with more and ultimately value the things that she learned from the real world. And it is this same appreciation and love that she puts in her pieces.
Kim’s designs are a mix of whimsy and a new feminine flair that is seen not on the runways of major fashion capitals but outside on the streets worn by style impresarios today. This makes her design point-of-view something to watch out for. Is it her use of color? the ovoid shapes she creates? She says it’s a combination of these and her roots as a Korean: “Many have said that my collections always seem to be inspired by the Korean Han-Bok. The beautiful bold and straight line—simple but strong—is always evident in my collection, even if I don’t realize it.”
She even admitted that her graphics bring a certain kind of asian vibe to her pieces. Every season her concept changes but when it is combined with her roots she becomes unstoppable. This “contemporary Asian style” make the Minju Kim brand more valuable.
“I wish I could spread Korean beauty and aesthetic to the world,” she said humbly when asked what it feels like representing Korea and Asia to the world. “Many people see Korean fashion through K-Pop, but there is a deeper, stronger beauty from Korean culture that is reflected not only in my creations but also in the pieces by my fellow Korean designers. With this opportunity, I want people to see the talent of Korean fashion designers,” she adds.
There is a kind of centrism when people reach for their dreams. A development of their own style and working on the success of their own brand is always top priority. But women like Minju Kim quickly realize that when she steps into the global stage she not only represents herself but also a legacy of refined art that has been deeply ingrained in her by previous generations. It is in this realization that Kim pays it forward by using her platform to open more doors to future Asian design superstars and in turn securing the future of fashion.