Fashion Customer in Korea

Women's Apparel
During the past couple of years, as their tastes have evolved, many Korean working women have shown diverse tastes in office attire, with their preferences shifting toward less formal, but gorgeous, sophisticated and professional look at work. Young designer’s brands and contemporary fashion brands are popular amongst Korean women. Since 2003, Marc Jacobs, CK Calvin Klein, Vannessa Bruno, Jill Stuart, SKNY, Theory, Sandro, Jadic et Voltaire, Bluemarine, Paul & Joe, See by Chloe have made inroad into the Korean market and now are enjoying good sales results in the Korean market.

Men's Apparel
Lately Korean male consumers have shown significant purchasing power on fashion goods. In particular, Korean young men have become fashion conscious in both their leisure and professional apparel needs, spurring a sharp increase in demand for imported casual wear and accessory brands. For Korean male consumers, wearing good brands is a way of showing off one’s social status and wealth. Kiton, Brioni, Ermenegildo Zena, Armani, Paul Smith are expanding market share in the high-end market. Demand for imported men’s casual brands is increasing amongst young consumers.

Baby’s and Kid's Apparel
The total size of the Korean market for children’s and baby wear was £780 million in 2008. Korean parents value high-end fashion and thus spend a lot on their children. The low birth rate in Korea (1.2 child per family) encourages high spending. As a result, foreign premium brands do well in Korea. Directly imported and licensed foreign brands such as Burberry Baby & Children, Ralph Lauren Baby & Children, Gap Baby & Kids, and Daks Kids are popular with Korean shoppers who like their quality Fashion & Clothing – South Korea
and brand name. The result is that local department stores are now targeting new 'luxury and sophisticated' foreign brands to sell to high-income brackets and working professionals.

Sportswear-Golf wear
The Korean sports wear apparel market has also registered strong growth, especially sales of ski, water sports, hiking and golfing wear. In particular, Golf wear has shown the most significant increase in demand. Industry statistics indicate that this market has expanded by 30% annually during the last 4-5 years. There has also been a large increase in the number of Korean women golfers, with women's golf wear accounting for about 45% of the overall golf wear market. Many apparel companies have launched women's apparel lines.


*Reference (www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk - Fashion market – South Korea)