Busan is good

World designers gather in Busan fashion show

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Several international names and established Korean designers are coming together in Busan for the Pret-a-Porter Busan 2006 Spring/Summer, tomorrow through Sunday at BEXCO.
About 15,000 people are expected to attend 13 fashion shows put on by designers from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Korea. Korean designer Andre Kim will kick off Busan's premier fashion event with a gala show tonight titled "Andre Kim Fashion Fantasia" at 6 p.m.

Pret-a-Porter Busan 2006 Spring/Summer, now in its fifth year, is the country's only international fashion show and one that has a more commercial focus than its Seoul counterpart, the Seoul Collection, which recently concluded its 10-day run, a reflection of Busan's long history as a hub port and a venue of international exchange. The annual event is organized by the Busan city government and the Busan Federation of Textile & Fashion Industry.

Designer Seo Soon-nam, who has been working in Busan for the past 30 years, will open tomorrow's shows, expounding on the theme of classical luxury. Belgian-born designers Christian Wijnants and Veronique Leroy, both now working from Paris, also present their works on the same day. Wijnants' collection will show African dressed influenced by the West and Western dresses influenced by Africa. Leroy, who debuted at the Paris Pret-a-Porter in 1991 is known for her eye for details.

NAQADA, from Los Angeles, favored by Hollywood celebrities including Mariah Carey, will show his collection on Friday as well.

Hong Kong designer Dorian Ho returns to the port city after a successful show last year. On Saturday, Ho will explore the theme "Sabrina," working with chiffon, silk, lace, feather and beads to create light and fluid silhouette epitomized by actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn.

Kang Hee-sook is bringing her pieces from the recent Seoul Collection down to Busan on Saturday. Denia Gagnon from New York will present his collection the same day, followed by Lee Mi-kyung, another Busan designer.

The designing team of Basso & Brooke from London, the recipient of London Fashion Fringe 2004 Award last year, an award that recognizes promising designers, makes their Busan debut on Sunday. Chris Brooke, trained at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design, and Bruno Basso, a Brazilian who has worked as graphics designer and curator, teamed up in 2003 and showed their first full collection at this year's London Fashion Week.

Hong Eun-ju from Seoul will present a menswear collection on Sunday, followed by Andy & Debb who will essentially repeat their Seoul show minus the menswear. Concluding this year's Pret-a-Porter Busan is Jo Myung-rye, a Busan designer who will show a colorful and feminine collection that plays on the theme of nostalgia.

For a complete schedule of shows, visit www.pretaporterbusan.com.

The source of news : The Korea Herald  2005.12.01