DRESSING FOR THE AIRPORT WITH MM WOOYOUNGMI

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It’s that time of year when we start planning holidays and fantasising about jetting off to somewhere a little less grey and a lot more sandy. One of our least favourite parts of a holiday is the airport. That big soulless building full of hurried business travellers, crying children and too much fast-food. But somethings been happening at airports of late. Where once it was perfectly acceptable to turn up for an early morning flight with pillow imprints still on your face, there is now some serious thought and grooming going into airport looks. People are dressing up!   

So before going anywhere we’re visiting ManMade Wooyoungmi Seoul for the perfect airport outfit. SS13 prints from Wooyoungmi are a stylish way to get in that holiday spirit, we’ll add a leopard print pocket square for fun. A travel wallet by Steve Mono in on trend mustard is a chic way to stay organised. Driving shoes by Heschung will add a little sophistication to the waiting lounge. Add a paper hat from Reinhard Plank and we’re half way to holiday. Now all we need is a ticket.  

White Summer Blazer  - Wooyoungmi

Printed Shorts – Wooyoungmi

Bona Paper Hat – Reinhard Plank

Two Tone Driving Shoes – Heschung

Mustard Travel Wallet – Steve Mono

Leopard Print Pocket Square – Vanities

 ALL AVAILABLE AT MANMADE WOOYOUNGMI SEOUL

PURIFIED – PURE GENIUS FOR YOUR FEET

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Dominic Webster and Simon Lee are the pair behind Purified, a shoe brand in their second season that have quickly caught the attentions of the international style set (including MM Wooyoungmi!). Having previously held the position of Creative Director at Six London, Webster embarked on this new footwear project with artist friend and fellow shoe enthusiast Lee. With a shared creative vision that finds inspiration in various subcultures within music and art movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Fluxus, Postal Art, Bauhaus, Punk and Visual Kei, they follow a brand philosophy of ‘no compromise in design or quality’.

Purified SS13 plays with a mix of textures, from clear high-shine leathers to printed pony skin, soft lizard stamps and rubber / leather mix soles, making each shoe a well thought out product. Produced in Portugal and the U.K., a selection of this season’s stand out styles are available at ManMade Wooyoungmi (5th floor) now.

Promo 1 Tiger Pony available @ MM

 

Putter 1 tan highshine available @ MM

Promo 1 tan lizard available @ mm

 

 

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF PURIFIED

RON MUECK EXHIBITION – FOUNDATION CARTIER, PARIS

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An exhibition by the sculptor Ron Mueck opened this week at the Foundation Cartier Pour l’Art Contemporain. This is a rare opportunity to catch the work of Australian born Mueck as his exhibitions in Europe are few and far between. So if you are in Paris in the coming months this is definitely one for your diary.

You’ve probably enjoyed some of Mueck’s  earlier work without even realising it; he started out as a model maker and was the man behind the wonderful creatures that filled the world of leggings clad Goblin King David Bowie in the film Labyrinth. 

Currently based in London, he creates hyperrealist sculptures with a focus on the human form. Details of his character’s bodies are reproduced in minute detail, but Mueck’s play with scale is unexpected and jarring to the viewer. 

The exhibition includes three new sculptures and is accompanied by an intimate documentary that follows his process from early scetches to the final touches of hair, clothing and props.  

Woman with Sticks, 2009. Courtesy Hauser & Wirth. © Ron Mueck. Photo Thomas Salva / Lumento, 2013.

 

Mask II, 2001, Matériaux divers.
© Ron Mueck. Photo courtesy Anthony d’Offay, Londres. Photo Thomas Salva / Lumento, 2013.

 

Ron Mueck

April 16 to September 29 at the Foundation Cartier Pour l’Art Contemporain.

 

For more details see here

http://fondation.cartier.com/#/en/home/

 

SOUVENIRS OF SEOUL

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Adam, our Paris based senior designer, makes regular trips to Seoul each season to work with the Seoul  design team in developing the collection. When he gets a chance there’s nothing he loves more than exploring the city. Here are a few of his souvenirs.

Time to Design – New Talent Award

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Last week the annual ‘Time to Design’ competition opened for submissions. Launched in 2008 by a collective made up of Normann Copenhagen, The Danish Art Workshops, The Danish Architectural Press, OeO and the Danish Ass. of Wood and Furniture Industries; the prize is awarded to professional designers at the beginning of their career.

And what a great prize it is. The winner receives a three month residency at The Danish Art Workshops with own mini studio as well as access to workshops and guidance. They’re also granted career coaching by OeO, a weblog and communications guidance by The Danish Architectural Press, a two week exhibition at the Normann Copenhagen Flagship Store and DKK 50,000 sponsored by the Danish Association of Wood and Furniture Industries. If you think you could be the next rising star of product design you can find out how to enter here http://www.timetodesign.eu

You may remember our friends Normann Copanhagen from previous posts. They’re the designer company responsible for the beautiful cork and aluminium barware available at ManMade Wooyoungmi Seoul.

 

This week Normann Copenhagen are taking part in Milan Design week’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile where their latest product designs are on display.

Photos courtesy of Normann Copenhagen

 

 

 

House Of Montague SS13 EXCLUSIVE AT MM WOOYOUNGMI

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Luxury Danish footwear brand House of Montague combines the craftsmanship of traditional European skilled labour with clean progressive Danish design. At MM Wooyoungmi we’re very excited to have an exclusive style for SS13. The ‘Rozana’ Toggle Derby is specially made in premium ostrich embossed cow leather and is available in black or white.

Alongside this we have the more classic Cecilie, House of Montague’s interpretation of the iconic tennis shoe. Made with premium Italian nappa leather, it showcases the brand’s clean design along with their focus on quality and comfort. 

For more from House Of Montague head to the 5th floor at ManMade Wooyoungmi Seoul and treat your feet to something special for Spring.

 

Cecilie, House of Montague

Cecilie, House of Montague

all photos courtesy of House of Montague

 

 

 

 

 

NEW BRANDS FOR SS13 AT MM WOOYOUNGMI SEOUL

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We’ve got that Friday feeling here at Wooyoungmi and to kick off the weekend we’d like to introduce you to some very special brands new to ManMade Wooyoungmi for SS13. Here’s a selection of what will be on offer from carefully sourced brand such as Bonastre, Steve Mono and Reinhard Plank. If you’re in Seoul this weekend why not drop by MM Wooyoungmi and discover them for yourself.

Diemme, Heschung, Purified, iShu+

Bonastre, Steve Mono, Vanities

Gilbert Gilbert, Vanities, Mono + Me

Vanities, Reinhard Plank

 

 

 

 

 

NEW STUDIO – NEW VIEW

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Last week we moved offices and we were ‘under construction’ for a few days. With boxes unpacked and things getting back to normal we thought we’d share this photo of our new view. This is the banks of the Seine under the snow last week. A beautiful Parisian scene. 

 

WOOYOUNGMI & OSANG GWON – AN INTERVIEW

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Osang Gwon’s exhibition ‘Masspatterns’ opened this week at ManMade Wooyoungmi Seoul, presenting the Wooyoungmi / Osang Gwon SS13 collaboration alongside a selection of his previous work. Designer Woo Youngmi caught up with him for a chat about his work, fashion and the Wooyoungmi collaboration.

Osang Gwon Exhibition Catalogues

 

WYM: Obviously you are a fashionable guy. What do you look for when you select clothing?

GWON: I like it if the clothes are made of a special material or if the pattern is unique. And I strive toward special clothes. However due to my short legs and arms, I have to suppress these aspirations and restrain myself. I try to dress in line with the situation and to wear clothes that suit my body.

WYM: It’s not the first time that you created work in a fashion related context. How has the collaboration with Wooyoungmi been different from other collaborations you did before?

GWON: It’s different that a collaborative work is used for an advertising campaign in European magazines. I think it’s a bold move to use the image of the artist’s works for an entire season’s advertising for a brand. The small solo show at the ManMade space will also be a special experience.

 

work by Osang Gwon at ManMade Wooyoungmi Seoul

 

WYW: Were there any challenges?

GWON: In terms of the artwork there were no special requirements. I found it rather interesting that the wooyoungmi S/S 2013 collection was inspired by patterns from various regions. On the internet I looked for images of animals with a pattern to complete this piece. It was certainly not easy to create something reflecting the wooyoungmi collection – garment, form or color.

WYW: How was the photo shoot with the models?

GWON: The model shoot for my work is for all participants a rather tedious task that requires concentration and time. Benoni, who appeared in the 13 S/S 2013 Wooyoungmi Paris show, came all the way from Paris to the studio in Seoul to work with us. And in the case of Ji Hwa Seob, he had to endure 6 hours with over 2000 shots.

 

WYW: From the artist’s point of view: what is the relationship between fashion and art?

GWON: In my early works the first poses were influenced by fashion ads. However, these poses often stem originally from classical sculpture or painting. That is why my artworks have also been influenced by classical sculpture as well as fashion ads. In addition, as my work is also used for fashion ads there seems to be a mutual influence.

WYW: What kind of role does fashion play in your “Deodorant Type” series?

GWON: The model poses of my early work were influenced by fashion ads, so naturally by collaborating with fashion magazines, fashion companies, and department stores, I often reflected upon the fashion trends of that time. Fashion ads can reflect the current times with a little bit of fantasy. Because of that my work also reflects fashion in a positive way.

WYW: Looking at your works, one would suppose you get a lot of inspiration from fashion and lifestyle magazines. What are other sources of inspiration for you? 

GWON: I think living as an artist in a big city like Seoul is a source of inspiration in itself.

WYW: With works such as the ready-made-car or the torso of a motorbike it is likely that you even interest men, who are more alien to art. So do you consider yourself also partly an art mediator?

GWON: If the general public reacts positively to my work I’m pleased. However, the majority ask why this motorcycle, why cut out magazines and take photographs of the cut-out again etc. ‘Why does he do this kind of strange art?’, is also something that many people think. However, I think it can be interesting to think about art from a new point of view rather than the typical way.

WYM: Do you have a favorite motto?

GWON: Do not get frustrated, start now.

Woo Youngmi, Osang Gwon and model Si Hwa Seop