Originally thought as a menswear brand, with their latest collection, inspired by the Wizard of Oz, Yangmo and Kang have taken a first step into womenswear – although they say that they “hoped that our brand should be for the people who like our clothes, not just for a certain gender.” Through their garments, the designers mix French traditional draping with more modern touches and witty details by using beautifully textured fabrics. Leje currently has two workshops: one in Paris and the other in Seoul. In France, the initial work is done, including design and pattern-making; in Korea, they sew and produce, to later be distributed around the globe.
And the secret to working together successfully despite their different visions? Precisely that: trusting in each other’s differences and finding common ground. As they say, “Finding a consensus among these differences can be the most crucial to our creative process.” Today, we speak with the South Korean designers about beauty, the environment, dealing with each other’s differences and inspiring women.