Korean Fashion Meets with South African Flair: Korean and South African Traditions Shine at Unique Fashion Show
A captivating fashion show celebrating the harmonious blend of cultural heritages from South Africa and Korea was held last Saturday, 27 July, at the Korean Cultural Centre in Pretoria.
The fashion show, organized as part of a three-day workshop event aimed to introduce traditional Korean dress, also known as ‘hanbok,’ to South Africa, was the highlight of the event where participants were given an opportunity to present hanbok to the audience.
The participants not only showcased a diverse array of traditional Korean dresses ranging from ceremonial attire to contemporary adaptations, but they also dazzled the audience by seamlessly integrating elements of South African traditional attire with hanbok, demonstrating a unique cultural fusion.
The audience responded with enthusiasm, particularly applauding the modern adaptations of hanbok that reflected influences from South African traditional clothing.
Gladina Masilela, a student from the Centre’s Korean language programme who also modelled at the fashion show, shared her enthusiasm “It was such an extraordinary day as I was honoured to present the traditional dress of Korea which I recently fell in love with as well as my proud heritage as a South African. Both countries have marvellous traditions and boast such exquisite aesthetics in traditional clothes, and today was a celebration of these beautiful heritages. I am thrilled to have been part of it.”
Preceding the fashion show, the event featured enlightening lectures on various types of traditional and modern hanbok, as seen in popular Korean dramas and K-pop, which have captivated audiences in South Africa. On the 25th and 26th, hands-on workshop sessions to create traditional Korean accessories were also offered.
Dr. Sunyoung Park, an esteemed hanbok expert from the Hanbok Culture Creative Space who led the three-day event, reflected on the experience “It was such an enlightening experience for me as I discovered and learned about the exquisite beauty of traditional South African clothing from the participants, rather than I taught the participants. Since arriving here, I have spent days exploring local shops and collecting stunning, colourful fabrics. I can’t wait to incorporate these South African cultural elements into our hanbok designs in the future.”
This event was organized in partnership with the King Sejong Institute Foundation as part of its initiative, ‘The Sejong Culture Academy,’ which aims to deepen understanding of Korean culture abroad and promote cultural exchanges.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
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