Man’s Baeja

Lee Chung Chung: "My first impression when I saw the form of traditional Korean baeja was about warmth and emotional stability that come from embrace. When I wear baeja, I feel as if someone is hugging me from behind, and this kind of feeling brings back communion between people, which is easily lost in modern society. I also think that the sense of warmth is related to the primary function of baeja as a thermal vest. I, therefore, interpreted the meaning of traditional form in designing my work. I applied a concept of feeling warmth that comes from communion between people to the ‘Hug Series’.
The concept is not limited to the simple gesture of hugging, but premised on generosity that understands and embraces the minds and thoughts of others. To express such communion, I mixed Korean motifs and Western clothing and designed a vest with two layers, and expressed the feeling of being practical and wearable. Cotton, wool, and knit fabric are used together. I intend to evoke nature-friendly feeling by using understated colors such as white, ivory, and brown."