[2018-02-21]
Korean traditional costume is being diversified in terms of form and decoration.
This can be witnessed through a large number of traditional clothes presented to the 15th national Korean costume show held last year.
The traditional costume and folklore articles centre of the Central Committee of the General Federation of the Unions of Art and Literature of Korea drew the focus of attention. It exhibited casual and holiday clothes which carry on traditional manners and properly harmonize elegant colours and refined decorative techniques in keeping with the fashion.
Traditional men’s attire paji and jogori, turumagi (overcoat) that preserves traditional beauty and modernity, and chima and jogori (women’s skirt and jacket) in good harmony with colours took first place at the show.
The centre, which has engaged in the research, production and propagation of traditional costume for years, plays a big part in carrying on and developing the original manners of Korean clothes which reflect national sentiment and talents.
On the basis of historical study of national costume, experts refashion the clothes to meet modern taste so as to promote their good qualities and beauty.
The principle they maintain in the production of Korean clothes is to combine the harmony of colours with decorative elements in a way that preserves the traditional beauty, represents the spirit of the times and conforms to local tastes.
Their holiday clothes are featured by a harmonious arrangement of colours in accordance with seasons and ages and application of such decorative techniques as manual embroidery, pictures and ornaments. And casuals are easy to wear.
The centre encourages the application of manual embroidery and other traditional methods to processing and decoration.
“Traditional ornaments in Korean clothes are part of the heritage of national culture and an important factor which helps preserve individuality in attire. Diverse folklore articles that represent women’s likings and aesthetic desires as well as exquisite and modern tastes add more to the quality and value of Korean clothes,” said So Mi Sun, head of the centre.
With its popularity growing, the centre tries to enhance the formative beauty by adding handbag, trinkets and pocket to the attire and diversifying ornaments in keeping with season, age, profession, taste, environment and condition.
It also pays attention to external exchange in a bid to help overseas Koreans have greater pride and dignity in the national costume.
By Jong Sun Bok PT