Juun.J explores boundaries of design

Juun.J, one of the few Korean brands participating in Paris Fashion Week, has rolled out fresh spring and summer looks for 2014.

The collection featured a mix of classic tailoring with sporty looks, challenging typical designs of menswear collections. The 38 pieces included variations of oversized sweatshirts with bold numbers emblazoned on them, high-waisted pants and photo-printed graphic sweatshirts.

The spring and summer looks were put together under the theme “ununiform,” coined by the designer who intended to create a style that crosses over two different worlds ― men and women, classical and sporty, minimal and avant-garde. 

“I stay out of regularities and always seek something new. I like to create contrasting features all at once because it is one of the ways that I eliminate boundaries,” said the designer Jung Wook-jun, who is better known as Juun.J outside of Korea.

Collaboration with Russian photographer Oleg Dou added an artistic touch to Juun.J’s signature sweatshirts. The sweatshirts are made from neoprene fabric used in diving suits. The fabric caught the designer’s attention last year and has since become his signature piece.

In its 13th season, Juun.J’s Paris collection drew celebrated fashion figures, including president of the French Federation of Couture and Fashion Design Didier Grumbach, fashion reporter Suzy Menkes and K-pop idol Taeyang of Big Bang.

Juun.J’s collection also received global media attention as he was featured in collection reviews of Le Figaro and the International Herald Tribune.

The designer became an official member of the French Federation of Couture and Fashion Design this year.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)