Fashion Street Style in Korea
Street style in South Korea: Individualism or Collectivism?
Introduction
For the scope of this paper, I am focusing on how South Korean urbanites view fashion as a means of expression and how fashion reflects the values of the Korean urban society. Based on my preliminary observations, I have noticed that Korea has a very distinct street style. I have observed that majority of the people on the streets dress in a similar fashion. Unlike in western societies where street style tends to be more varied and unique to the individual, conformity and similarity seems to be the main focal point in Korea. I am therefore interested to find out what exactly drives this phenomenon in Korea? How does the collectivistic culture of the Korean society influences the way one develops street style in Korea? What kind of political, economic and social factors does street style reflect on the society? Moreover, what does street style reveal about the changing landscape of people in the society? Also, I would like to investigate who are the players who dictate the ebb and flow of fashion trends in the Korean society?
Defining Fashion
The term ‘fashion’ is derived from the Latin word ‘factio’ which means making or doing. Although ‘style’ can sometimes be used synonymously with ‘fashion’, more accurately ‘style’ denotes the meaning of conforming to a ‘prevalent standard’. When combined, the term ‘street style’ connotes the democratization of fashion. (Kawamura, 2005: 3)
Prior to the modern concept of fashion, in the 15th century, fashion was a symbol for class distinction and mainly a product that was only exclusively enjoyed by the aristocrats in society. In the 19th century, the wealthy also had the means to participate in fashion consumption and thus what was initially a closed form of activity now began to open up. This eventually led to the democratization of fashion, which began in the 20th century, whereby anyone, regardless of class or status, possessed the right to look
Introduction
For the scope of this paper, I am focusing on how South Korean urbanites view fashion as a means of expression and how fashion reflects the values of the Korean urban society. Based on my preliminary observations, I have noticed that Korea has a very distinct street style. I have observed that majority of the people on the streets dress in a similar fashion. Unlike in western societies where street style tends to be more varied and unique to the individual, conformity and similarity seems to be the main focal point in Korea. I am therefore interested to find out what exactly drives this phenomenon in Korea? How does the collectivistic culture of the Korean society influences the way one develops street style in Korea? What kind of political, economic and social factors does street style reflect on the society? Moreover, what does street style reveal about the changing landscape of people in the society? Also, I would like to investigate who are the players who dictate the ebb and flow of fashion trends in the Korean society?
Defining Fashion
The term ‘fashion’ is derived from the Latin word ‘factio’ which means making or doing. Although ‘style’ can sometimes be used synonymously with ‘fashion’, more accurately ‘style’ denotes the meaning of conforming to a ‘prevalent standard’. When combined, the term ‘street style’ connotes the democratization of fashion. (Kawamura, 2005: 3)
Prior to the modern concept of fashion, in the 15th century, fashion was a symbol for class distinction and mainly a product that was only exclusively enjoyed by the aristocrats in society. In the 19th century, the wealthy also had the means to participate in fashion consumption and thus what was initially a closed form of activity now began to open up. This eventually led to the democratization of fashion, which began in the 20th century, whereby anyone, regardless of class or status, possessed the right to look
Bibliography: Berry, J. (2010 йил ---). Street Style: Fashion photography, weblogs and the urban image. Fashion: Exploring Critical Issues . (J.-L. F. Fisher, Ed.) Queensland, Queensland, Australia: inter-disciplinary.net . From Griffith University: http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/jessberypaper.pdf Kawamura, Y. (2005). Fashion-ology: An Introduction to Fashion Studies. New York: Berg. Ruhlen, R. N. (2003). Korean Alterations: Nationalism, Social Consciousness, and "Traditional" Clothing. In A. M. Sandra Niessen, Re-orienting Fashion: The Globalization of Asian Dress (p. 117). New York: Berg.