After working for Balenciaga, he learned to understand the value of craftsmanship and of haute couture as a discipline of infinite processes, each subject to meticulous care. With his grandmother, he learned the importance of tradition, the weight of cultural heritage, and the aesthetics of traditional Korean clothing. The union of these two sources of knowledge converges in what is known today as Kimhēkim, the Korean heritage brand translated to modern forms through artisanal processes.
Founded in 2014 and part of the Federation de la Haute Couture since 2019, Kimhēkim has managed to create an aesthetic that is as unique as it is distinctive. With a conceptual minimalism that does not necessarily translate into an aesthetic one, in his different collections he has taken elements such as bows, denim, and hair (which he calls obsessions) and created unique pieces that have not only made the audience and the industry know his name thanks to the virality and innovation factor in his designs, but that they remember and respect him thanks to his couture-level craftsmanship.
While the general public's interest in South Korea and its artistic and aesthetic proposals is undoubtedly on the rise, he not only benefits from it but that’s where he also finds motivation and even inspiration. It is not difficult to find the biggest stars in the Korean industry wearing his creations. We talk about this, about his creative processes, and about how Paris and Seoul have seen him create his story.