Hanbok Expo Seoul

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.

The convention has been held every year since 2017 and this year around 112 different brands participated! There were so many booths this year selling all different styles of hanbok, clothes inspired by traditional Korean designs, bags, shoes, hair accessories, pet clothes, you name it. While I love it all, I really like seeing all the creative ways designers take motifs from traditional hanbok fashion and reinterpret them for the modern world through t-shirts, jackets, hoodies and all kinds of casual wear.

I also really love how they take all these beautiful designs and recreate them for our furbabies. Though only a handful of pet hanbok designers participated in the expo this year, the number of pet hanbok brands in Korea has grown quite a bit. You can find these beautiful traditional outfits and accessories made for dog of all sizes. Uyu has so many different hanboks from various designers, this time we even got him a new for Durumagi (두루마기) for winter.

There were also many familiar designers I’ve purchased from before like Sullihwa, TM3, Leesle, Ccomaque and Sheen. And although I have my favorites, every year I try to find and support a new designer. This year was a new brand called Owl Hanbok. I ordered a custom skirt from them that incorporates fabric from a painting of a traditional royal procession. It’s definitely going to be one of the more unique pieces in my closet and I can’t wait to wear it!

If you have any interest in learning more about, purchasing or just surrounding yourself in beautiful traditional Korean fashion this event is not to be missed! So, if you plan to be in Seoul next August make sure to add this event to your itinerary.

2024 Hanbok Expo 한복상점