Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A wave of remarkable fashion designers have recently emerged from Korea and the Korean diaspora. Today, a growing number of designers are grappling successfully with the challenging issue of a "global runway." Fashion, previously focused almost exclusively on local tastes and trends, is now being produced in the context of a world-wide industry. As Korean and Korean-American designers manufacture and market their work internationally, distinct cultural influences may become more difficult to identify, leading to questions about the role cultural influences should play in a designer's style.

Susan Shin is the founder of Shin Advisors LLC, a luxury branding, business development, marketing, special events and communications consultancy that specializes in the fashion, jewelry, beauty, art, décor/furniture, hospitality, lifestyle and related sectors. Launched in 2005, Shin Advisors' clients have included Emanuel Ungaro, Bally, Gustavo Arango, Harry Winston, Vivienne Tam, Tumi, The Museum of Modern Art, Moët-Hennessy USA, Diageo and more. Prior to establishing Shin Advisors LLC, Susan Shin was an intellectual properties lawyer at Goodwin Procter and an adjunct professor of international intellectual property at New York University. A graduate of Columbia University, she holds a J.D. and a Master's in international law from Cornell Law School. Ms. Shin often has been profiled and quoted in the media for her philanthropy and expertise.

Gemma Kahng is a New York fashion designer. Born in Korea and raised in the United States from age fourteen, her earliest design experience was making paper clothes for her paper dolls. After studying fashion at the Art Institute of Chicago, Kahng launched her first collection in 1989 and immediately captured a full-page editorial spread in Vogue. Kahng is considered the first Korean designer to make a significant impact in the US.

Jean Yu is a Korean-born fashion designer working in New York City. She was one of the top-ten finalists for the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund in 2005. Yu is known for her architectural approach and seamless technique. Her dresses have been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New York Times and W. Jean Yu opened up her store on Crosby Street in SoHo in December 2001.