WINNER
2016Hyein Seo & Jinho Lee
Both Hyein Seo and Jinho Lee entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in 2009 and emerged as the center of attention on the global fashion stage thanks to their unique yet commercially appealing designs. In February 2014, they won VFiles Made Fashion 2 organized by VFiles – New York’s noted fashion and entertainment platform – and launched their brand Hyein Seo in full scale. The duo’s first runway show, presented with the support of VFiles at New York Fashion Week, garnered acclaim from globally renowned retailers and fashion reviewers for successfully capturing the avant-garde and remaining on the cutting edge while retaining a strong commercial appeal. The duo is gaining recognition not only in Korea but also across the US and Europe. They were recently selected to take part in the International Fashion Showcase, a festival of emerging designers organized by the British Fashion Council.
The brand pursues a balanced harmony between the avant-garde unique to Antwerp and a dynamic urban street culture. It strives to remain original and distinctive, while retaining its commercial appeal. Each of Hyein Seo’s creations is unique on its own and works as a statement piece. The collection sold out as soon as it was stocked at major retailers, testifying to the brand’s boundless potential to grow into a globally acclaimed label. The designer duo, based in Antwerp, is inspired by classical novels, films, and streets of different countries. They weave and convey an interesting story through each collection and complete each look as if creating a scene for a film or a novel. In this way, Hyein Seo stays faithful to its concept as “an experimental yet practical brand” and presents innovative, stimulating designs of the highest quality.
Hyein Seo is sought after by trendsetting celebrities including Rihanna, Big Bang, and 2NE1 as both on-stage and off-stage wear. It was also featured on Style.com, one of the most influential fashion websites, and was received favorably by many press organizations. Global awareness of the brand is steadily advancing under such an international spotlight. At present, the Hyein Seo collection is being sold at leading fashion retailers around the world, including Vfiles, H.Lorenzo, Joyce, I.T, Fake Tokyo, and GR8.
