KOREA FOUNDATION

INTERVIEW

Clothes for Comfort and Self-empowerment
Designer Lee Hwa-suk

Clothes represent a person’s profession, character, and way of life. People go shopping for their favorite clothes to relieve stress. We talked to Lee Hwa-suk of Pearl by Any, a 40-year veteran designer who creates clothing to comfort and empower people.

Nice to meet you. Please say hello to the readers of ASEAN Culture House Monthly.

Hello. I’m Lee Hwa-suk, a fashion designer who has been making clothes in Busan for 40 years. The brand I manage now is Pearl by Any, a company dedicated to crafting high-end, tailor-made garments. Utilizing the same tools and materials as overseas luxury brands, we create clothes that blend avant-garde silhouettes and modern details with inspiration from the classics.

I’m curious about the costumes you presented at the 2022 ASEAN-Korea Fashion Week. Tell us about the occasion and your designs.

ASEAN-Korea Fashion Week was a fashion show that I have been interested in since it was held online. This was the first in-person fashion show since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago, so I wanted to present a new style of design that I would feel comfortable wearing every day in the post-pandemic age. I tried to mix and match a variety of colorful materials and creative designs that I hadn’t tried before.

What was the atmosphere like at the ASEAN-Korea Fashion Week, after three years of virtual events?

Because it wasn’t held physically for a long time, it felt slightly unfamiliar, but during fashion shows, everyone is always happy and having fun. The designers who presented their clothes, and the audience who watched the show seemed to have missed participating in this real-world experience.

Were there any designs or brands from the ASEAN region that impressed you?

There were two brands from ASEAN countries that joined the event, ESH and Tiny Ink. Both were remarkable. In general, ESH had beautiful silhouettes especially the lines of the clothing, and Tiny Ink used new colors that they don’t typically rely on to design their clothing. I am looking forward to what both brands will bring to the table in the future.

Finally, could you say a word of encouragement for those who dream of becoming a fashion designer?

If you put all of your effort into whatever you are passionate about, then you will find success. In my case, adhering to this philosophy has proven effective. I anticipate the day when we can greet each other as professional designers.