BLACKPINK’s Coachella hanbok designers, “The outfits blended tradition with modernity to represent BLACKPINK’s journey around the world”

Designers of BLACKPINK’s hanbok costumes at Coachella talked about their collaboration with the four-member YG girl group.

Apart from their spectacular performances as the first Korean headliner at the Coachella festival, BLACKPINK also made headlines for their hanbok stage costumes. The hanbok outfits worn by four BLACKPINK members were highly praised for their symbolic meanings, such as introducing Korean tradition to the world and increasing Asia’s value in the global music market.

JoongAng Daily recently met and had an interview with the two people who created the hanbok BLACKPINK wore at Coachella, including Lee Il Soon, founder of the hanbok brand Kumdanje, and her daughter Chang Ha Eun, CEO of pattern design brand OUWR.

During the interview, Lee revealed that YG assigned the designing of BLACKPINK’s Coachella outfits to her because she had already worked with YG’s stylists and BLACKPINK members for previous events and solo activities.

In particular, CEO Lee said, “In the draft proposal from YG, I noticed that the stage setting was modeled on traditional Korean buildings and that the four members were due to appear on stage wearing hanbok, then take it off when they begin performing”. With the thought of showcasing something beyond the traditional formality of an international concert, Lee decided to collaborate with her daughter to make BLACKPINK’s stage outfits look younger and trendier.

Explaining the design of BLACKPINK’s Coachella stage costumes, CEO Chang said, “Our focus for the four black hanbok pieces was allowing the wearer to move around freely, and they were influenced by cheollik, or an overcoat worn by military officials in the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (1392-1910) dynasties”. Describing the details of each member’s costume, Chang emphasized that the outfits blended tradition with modernity to represent BLACKPINK’s traveling to and from Korea and the rest of the world.

Regarding BLACKPINK’s reactions to their Coachella hanbok, Lee shared, “We heard that they loved it”. Lee also mentioned that it is inevitable for outfits to go through multiple changes during the fitting process, then proudly boasted, “Surprisingly, the Coachella outfits were finished in one go. Even YG said this was the first time it has ever happened”.

When asked about the meaning of K-pop girl groups wearing hanbok on big stages, Chang said, “Hanbok alone showcases the artist’s identity, value, pride, heritage and history. The reason why BLACKPINK’s Coachella performance was able to shine is because it was filled with Korean aspects from the stage installation, costumes, fan dance and closing remarks in Korean.”

Source: JoongAng Daily