Fleece and Femininity: Uniqlo’s Second Outing with Bahnsen
According to The Korea Herald, Uniqlo is preparing to launch its second collection with Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen on Friday, following the partnership’s debut in Korea in May. The source reports that items from the first line, including ruffled dresses and T-shirts, sold out within hours of release, a fact that helps explain the interest surrounding the new launch.
AI Glasses: The Joint Project Between Gentle Monster and Samsung
Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster presented its full Intelligent Eyewear line in New York, developed with hardware contributions from Samsung Electronics and based on Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence, according to The Korea Herald. The collection comprises 16 styles built on two optical frames and four sunglasses frames, in various color and lens combinations.
Wearers can converse with Gemini via simple voice commands. The frames weigh about 41 grams and offer up to nine hours of battery life on a single charge, rising to 72 hours with the charging case. They are compatible with Samsung Galaxy smartphones and some other Android and iOS devices. A New York pop-up offers a public preview until November 23; reservations, which opened on November 6, sold out quickly, and preorders began on November 12. The launch is scheduled for December 10 in Korea and the United States, at a price between 650,000 and 700,000 won (about $490–$520) depending on the model.
Apparel and Sneakers: Songzio with Egonlab, Puma with JiyongKim
Seoul-based fashion house Songzio has collaborated with Parisian avant-garde label Egonlab on “The Art of Dark Poetry,” launched on Friday. According to the source, the collection tells of an artist exploring his inner self at the point where reality and ideals collide, treating darkness as the starting point of creation. French military uniforms serve as the basis: silhouettes inspired by officer coats and jackets receive bold proportions and a sculptural structure, while braids, cords, and other military details are reworked. The line includes men’s and women’s pieces, including coats, jackets, knitwear, shirts, and trousers.
Puma has reinterpreted its Cell Geo sneakers with Korean design brand JiyongKim, led by designer Kim Ji-yong, who builds his collections around the traces left by time, such as sun-faded colors, stains, and worn textures. The distinctive “sun bleach” technique exposes fabrics to sunlight for long periods, so that no piece is identical to another. The model applies aged fabrics, distressed details, and distinctive surface treatments. A manager at Puma’s Korean operation explained that the three-dimensional heel unit offers a geometric structure and good cushioning, while fluid cut lines and a semi-shroud that partially covers the lacing area complete a sleek and futuristic silhouette. Puma has intensified partnerships with Korean brands and designers; the first collaboration with JiyongKim was released in February.
