Concept Korea Spring 2016: KAAL E.SUKTAE and Jarret

The Concept Korea initiative supports Korean fashion designers and promotes their talent overseas. For the 12th edition at New York Fashion Week, KAAL E.SUKTAE and Jarret presented their Spring 2016 collections on the runway.

KAAL E.SUKTAE by Lee Suk-tae: In Lee Suk-tae’s “Dust to Dust” collection, many of the pieces were simply cut black and white dresses, boxy jackets, shells, and coats that combined matte materials with shiny leather or buckles. The best pieces were Lee’s navy button down shirt with pleated, layered bell sleeves with fringe detail, and a long skirt half layered with pleated ruffles, with the other half comprising vertical stripes of contrasting black and white material.

The “Dust to Dust” collection by KAAL E.SUKTAE is inspired by the Book of Daniel, Chapter 2, where Daniel was tasked to not only interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, but to guess what he dreamed. (photo by Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

all other KAAL E.SUKTAE photos by Megan Lee / Meniscus Magazine

Jarret by Lee Ji-youn: A twist on the fairy tale “Snow White” inspired the Jarret Spring 2016 collection: a survivor at conflict with her “alter-ego.” The feminine, if a touch bland, collection included short skirts with embroidered mesh layers, off-the-shoulder ruffled tops, and boxy shirts. See-through tops were paired with contrasting opaque skirts or pants, or vice versa. Standout pieces included a carmine pencil skirt with white stencil detailing and a white shirt dress with contrast mesh material peeking out from underneath.

An outfit from the Jarret Spring 2016 collection in New York. (photo by Megan Lee / Meniscus Magazine)

Overall, the designs for both collections were not earth-shattering. Korea has a lot to offer, so the expectation is that if they feature two designers on the NYFW: The Shows catwalk to “publicize Korea’s fashion culture throughout the world,” the designs ought to stand out and have people talking. These two collections could easily have blended in with any of the other mediocre collections shown on the catwalk this season. These designers are capable of designing edgier clothing for the New York crowd who appreciates drama, texture, and unique cuts. Hopefully, next season, Concept Korea will showcase more interesting looks that will leave the audience talking for the rest of the year.