#Yarn & Fiber
"Wool Modern" exhibition opens in Seoul
The opening event, which started off with congratulatory remarks by the UK Ambassador to Korea Scott Wightman and VIP guests including, Cy Choi, Hwajin Oh and Design Methods as well as foreign designers Camilla and Marc, Angela Wright and Nick Gray all of whom expressed high expectations for the opening of Wool Modern.
The Campaign for Wool aims to attract consumers' interests in wool, and in doing so promotes the global wool industry. The campaign officially began in 2010 with a launch event that saw London's iconic tailoring street Savile Row transformed into a pasture with grazing sheep. A key element of the Campaign for Wool is Wool Week, which promotes the campaign's credo "Live naturally, choose wool", through the promotion of education and exhibition programs with fashion brands across the world. Involving all the players in the wool industry, ranging from local farms to world-famous brands and designers, the campaign has made positive changes in people's recognition of wool. The Woolmark Company is one of the major funding partners which have helped the campaign enjoy great success as it continues to be rolled out across lucrative markets throughout the world.
Designer Kuho Jung, who has actively used wool for his pieces, made a structural silhouette, titled Talpi, by connecting ready-made jackets together. He also showcases the delicate Korean aesthetics with traditional Dangukhwa, Bosanghwa and Baekilhong flower patterns printed on the fabric. Giha Woo & Hyukseok Kang, a promising industrial designer working in the UK, interpreted the biodegradability and sustainability of wool into clocks, multi tabs and radios seen in our daily lives under the theme of "Fabric.ation."
Peter Ackroyd MBE, President of the International Wool Textile Organisation commented, "The Woolmark Company leads the way globally in Merino wool innovation. The Wool Modern exhibition has been incredibly successful in encouraging design talent to think freely on what can be achieved with wool in all its guises. The resulting works from the participating Korean artists such as J.J S Lee and Hwajin Oh are really very special."
Wool Modern Korea includes educational talks for college students studying fashion, textile and industrial design. Designers Kuho Jung and HwaJin Oh and exhibition curator Charlotte Lurot will present production techniques and processes using wool. The talks will be held on November 21 and 22.
In addition to the Wool Modern exhibition, the retail campaign activities will be collaborated with Lotte Department store, fashion brand Daks, Barbour, John Smedley and Wolsey.
The Woolmark Company would also like to thank all the sponsors of Wool Modern - The British Embassy in Seoul, Australian Embassy in Seoul, Azetech WB, GS eshop, Korean Fashion Council, Korea Wool Industry Association and Ara Art Centre.
www.campaignforwool.kr and www.campaignforwool.org
