25 February 2022

Miss Sohee supported by Dolce&Gabbana

The South Korean designer Sohee Park, stylistically attracted to the world of haute couture, in her collection share the beauty of Korean folk art in harmony with Dolce & Gabbana's creative vision

Following their path of encouragement to the younger generation, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana continue to invest and believe in new talents. Supporting Sohee Park, founder and Creative Director of the brand Miss Sohee, in her international debut during Milan Fashion Week. The new Miss Sohee collection is presented inside the Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda premises in Corso Venezia 13 in Milan.

Both Dolce&Gabbana and Sohee find compatibility in their love of artisanal handmade crafts. The tailoring, authentic and unbuilt approach of Sohee Park, harmonizing with the creative visions of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana made this project possible. Dolce&Gabbana supported Sohee Park in creating the collection and organizing the presentation event.

25 years old, originally from South Korea, Sohee Park lives in London where she recently graduated from Central St. Martin. With her creations she has already attracted the attention of big names in entertainment and the international jet set. Stylistically attracted to the world of haute couture, she has chosen to have a sustainable approach, making extensive use of upcycling and recycled materials.

Sohee Park wanted to share the beauty of Korean folk art as she experienced it: the initial inspiration for the collection comes from Minhwa, or “painting of the people”, a traditional art form produced primarily by anonymous and untrained artists, to emulate the artistic aesthetic of their time, in the decoration of everyday objects.

Particularly fascinated by the natural elements painted in Minhwa art, Sohee has reinterpreted them into tableaus. The designer’s own sketches, which are retranslated Minhwa, were realised through embroidery, with figures of tigers, magpies, flowers, butterflies, sea waves and mountains, enriched with Swarovski crystals on sculptural and shimmering silhouettes.

The choice of fabrics and colours are an integral part of the visual language. The palette draws inspiration from traditional Korean shades; reds, blues, blacks, whites and golds appear throughout; in a variety of different textures.

Giving continuity to previous collections, sustainable materials were used. Hansan Mosi, from the Hansan region of South Korea, is one of the country’s oldest textiles, inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognised for its unique weaving, made from locally sourced hemp.

In addition, upcycled fabrics from the Dolce&Gabbana archive and plant-based fibres, such as pineapple leather and Abaca fabric, a material that comes from a specimen that is part of the banana tree family, have also been selected.

Thanks to the support of the Dolce&Gabbana ateliers, the designer Sohee Park has ventured into a new direction in accessories, with the design and creation of bags, shoes and jewels. The inspiration for the metalwork is drawn from traditional Korean jewellery and hair accessories.

Even the decorative embroideries on the bags feature Minhwa-inspired tableaus of animals, sea waves and flowers. Always fascinated by Peonies, as seen in Sohee’s first collection, ‘The Girl in Full Bloom’ and in her emblematic Peony dress, Sohee returns to pay homage to this flower as it symbolises wealth and well-being in Korean folklore.

Edited by Lisa Maria River

Avion Luxury Magazine

Text source and photos: Dolce & Gabbana Press Office

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