"Is G-Dragon here yet?"
The South Korean rapper with basically eleven million followers changed into the field of contagious whispers on Tuesday night at Seoul vogue Week's first foremost off-the-calendar exhibit of the season. A crowd of editors, celebrities, and even Demna Gvasalia's brother, Guram turned into lured in the middle of the evening with handiest 24-hours be aware to the group of workers car parking zone at the Grand Hyatt inn no longer best because of the promise of a okay-Pop famous person sighting, however also to peer South Korea's first "respectable punk manufacturer," 99p.cIS—, (said 99 percent is), which become founded in 2008 by Seoul native Park Jung Woo, who goes by way of Bajowoo and looks lots just like the Joker from Batman.
"I need what I do to be like a virus," spoke of Bajowoo the day after the show. "it will probably unfold to all ages, each length in heritage, and every lifestyle. No remember who you're, in case you catch it, you share the identical experience." The 32-12 months-old pointed out this through his now-signature surgical mask, which he cuts a smile into each day earlier than smearing black eyeshadow round his eyes. He additionally has shiny yellow hair with an anarchy image dyed on the returned of his head, balanced by means of purple spikes within the front. On set, he wore a "Fuck continuously" pin from the Spring 2017 assortment and drank via a straw, in order that he certainly not had to reveal his face.
Between his penchant for grandiose rants equivalent to this one, rogue style suggests, and clothes that refuse to play via the rules, it looks reasonable to deem Bajowoo the Kanye West of South Korean vogue.
"I truly like Kanye West," talked about Bajowoo when requested about American conventional culture. "He has lots of issues to assert, however receives cursed out. however that's what i love about him. He's no longer making an attempt to act cool; he's just doing what he wants to do."
besides G-Dragon, different celebrity fanatics of 99p.cIS— consist of woman Gaga and Justin Bieber. despite the fact, West himself has yet to seize on. Bajowoo has all the time had a strong connection to track although, and after graduating from style college in Korea, he traveled the realm designing costumes for small rock bands. via his work, he developed an eclectic style for the underground punk fashion vogue in particular whereas travelling cities akin to London, Paris, Tokyo, and Bangkok, and at last settled in Tokyo to attend the designer vogue school. It became here that he first showed officially at Tokyo style Week in 2012. His return to Seoul this season turned into as a result of his Spring 2017 assortment was inspired by Korean tradition.
Xexclusive backstage images of the stunning ninety nine%IS— reveal In Seoul
The scene on the ninety ninep.cIS— exhibit in Seoul was Mad Max meets jap Yakuza meets The sex Pistols. visitors were each handed a Brewdog "Punk IPA" and ashtrays were placed at the conclusion of each row with lighters. each person — including k-Pop stars — dressed for the occasion in leather-based jackets, platform boots, and fishnet tights. models emerged from a cloud of smoke vaping and ingesting as smartly — some even poured beer on themselves to reveal a print under their soaked white shirts. And while the collection become supposed to look like a scorching mess, there were different artful tricks of the attention, including smashed cans worn as glasses, a whole bunch of defense pins arranged to make picture prints, and embroidery of the letters A.G.T, which stands for each "towards great fact," and the notice, ah-gee-teu, which is Korean for "hangout spot."
"You on no account recognize what's precise except you've skilled it," observed Bajowoo of the assortment's theme of certainty versus truth. "as an example, if an object is labeled as Coca Cola, you don't in fact understand it's Coke unless you style it. It could be Dr. Pepper or soy sauce." This changed into additionally a metaphor for the way punk culture is perceived, chiefly by using greater conservative Koreans. "Koreans believe punk is only aggressive," persisted Bajowoo. "I need my garb to reveal that it's more than that."
For Bajowoo, the definition of punk comprises everyone from skaters to skinheads to the intercourse Pistols, who all can also have their personal ah-gee-teu, but share a commonality. "however our appearances are distinctive, if you happen to examine someone's apparel, you could know you share identical emotions," he noted. "i will be able to stroll into any ah-gee-teu all over with self assurance."
With the swift globalization and modernization of South Korea, or not it's no surprise that many younger people are embracing each the punk appear and way of life. at the ninety ninepercentIS— exhibit, tattoo-clad models even walked topless — two practices which are still extremely frowned upon in Korean lifestyle. but with fundamental stars like G-Dragon getting in the back of the punk trend, too, perhaps here is a sign that there is even extra trade afoot.
"individuals are not involved, and don't understand about the one % of us that can not fit in with the leisure," said Bajowoo of his army of k-Punks, who may also now not be mainstream yet, but are definitely a community of their personal. "but for me and my pals, it's every little thing. It's 99-%."
Ba Jo Woo wears all 99p.cis-.
picture via Mok Jungwook. Sittings Editor: Yookyung Choi. picture Editor: Biel Parklee.
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