What to See, Eat and Do in Korea (and Beyond)
Korelimited is a Korean-American streetwear brand that launched back in 2013. Like so many of the Korean brands I love and support, their mission is to keep Korean heritage alive through fashion. But what sets them apart from some of my other favorite brands is that they really focus on comfortable everyday wear like t-shirts, hoodies and caps while still weaving history, culture, and identity into.
Korean handbags have grown in popularity and now are one of the most popular K-fashion buys when visiting Seoul. There are loads of influencers going on about what the “Korean girlies are buying”, but less so when it comes to brands that are influenced by Korean culture like 71to96.
I have shared so many of my favorite Korean designers and hanbok brands, but I’ve never shared the one that started it all (for me). Teterot Salon (때때롯살롱) used to just be Chima Jeogori (치마저고리), a tiny indie shop in Sinchon that sold me my first daily hanboks back in 2016. I guess you could say it was my gateway brand because, honestly, there was no looking back after that.
The 2025 session of the Hanbok Expo is officially underway and there are over 150 designers and brands attending. It can definitely be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the hanbok scene. But, as someone who’s been attending for the past several years, I wanted to share some my favorites.
The Hanbok Expo is the perfect place to find your next hanbok look and this year’s event has all the KPop Demon Hunters vibes you could want.
After almost reaching the point of no return (due to Covid), Myeongdong has risen from the ashes and has once again become a tourist hotspot. So we’ve complied a list of places we personally visit and feel would be worth your time and hard earned cash.
One of my recommendations when shopping in Korea is a fragrance. It’s hard to put my finger on what it is, but Korean fragrances just hit different. And it’s not just the fragrance. It’s the packaging, theming and concept that goes into the whole package. Shopping for a fragrance in Korea is a whole experience in its own right and Hotel Dawson is no exception.
At the top of my list of must buys in Korea are daily hanbok or modern clothes and accessories inspired by traditional Korean designs. And while there are many amazing Korean designers out there, Leesle continues to dominate the top of my recommendation list.
If you’ve been looking up Korean fashion brands, then no doubt you’ve come across the name “Blue Elephant”. But, because Blue Elephant is a newer brand, you might not know exactly what it is. Then, it’s a good thing we’ve got you covered.
While I’m not really a summer person, one thing that I look forward to every year is Hanbok Expo! What is Hanbok Expo? Hanbok Expo (한복상점) is a yearly convention where hanbok designers (both traditional and modern) from all across the country gather to sell, showcase and promote… well… hanbok! The hanbok industry has flourished so much since I first wrote about it back in 2016.
If you’re looking for a unique souvenir to commemorate your trip to Korea… why not get a daily hanbok or modern clothes inspired by traditional Korean designs? There are so many amazing designers, it can be overwhelming. Especially if you’re looking for something in particular. So here are some of my favorite brands and why I like them.
Whether you’ve just moved to Korea or are just stopping by for a visit, you will inevitably come across the ever-popular store, “Daiso.” I’d consider Daiso to be a “dollar store” equivalent, but with way more variety and much better quality (speaking as someone born and raised in the US).
