By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Top Korean designer Andre Kim is giving his unique, luxurious style to lighting products such as chandeliers.
Kim launched the Andre Kim Lighting collection through a fashion show at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul on Wednesday evening. Models walked down the runway against the backdrop of the extravagant lighting collection while also carrying some of the 50 different lighting products.
Kim designed the decadent and ornate chandeliers by taking inspiration from ancient Korean and Asian kingdoms. The lighting products and chandeliers were made for a local company, Daebang Phostech.
Known for his romantic style, Kim created crystal chandeliers that can add a touch of decadence to any home. He has already lent his name to a well-known brand for a range of products such as eyewear, neckties, golfing goods and cosmetics. He had also designed a line of home appliances for Samsung, featuring gold-accented red washing machines, and a Kookmin Bank card.
Andre Kim Lighting collection will compete against other world-class lighting products at the Light+Building show in Frankfurt, April 2008 and another lighting trade show in Milan, Italy in 2009. This is expected to pave the way for the lighting products to be exported to the European market.
Also during the show, Kim unveiled his fall and winter fashion art collection. Among the models were some celebrities such as 2008 Miss Korea Lee Ji-seon and actors Lee Jae-hwang, Lee Tai-sung, Lee Sang-won and Jun Tai-soo.
The fashion show featured a total of 170 pieces, most of which were in black and white. The gowns are done in a modern romantic style, with a hint of traditional Asian elements. The show had six stages, starting with ``Tales of Snowing Northern Land'' and ending with ``Everlasting Love of Holy Swan Castle'' featuring dreamy wedding gowns.
Kim will hold another fashion show at the 2007 Korea Drama Festival in the southern city of Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, Saturday evening. The show will showcase Kim's gowns made from Jinju's famous silk.
Actor Park Hae-jin will also appear at the fashion show as a model, along with 2008 Miss Korea Lee Ji-seon, as well as other Korean stars.