By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Lee Rheeza, a designer of hanbok, which is a traditional form of Korean clothing, has created countless dresses for celebrities and dignitaries ― from Miss Koreas and foreign ambassadors to first ladies ― over the last 45 years.
Known as a pioneer in making hanbok and introducing it abroad, the 74-year-old designer has recently donated 350 works to the National Folk Museum of Korea.
"These 350 pieces were made for special figures such as first ladies, foreign ambassadors' wives and celebrities. The donated dresses are pieces of modern history," Lee said in an interview with The Korea Times.
She began making hanbok at an early age after watching her mother make her father's clothes. But she earned her reputation as a hanbok designer when she won the grand prize at the Pan-National Attire Contest in 1971 using her exquisite sewing skills.
Her dresses won the Miss World Beauty Contest's Best Folk Dress award in 1974, 1975 and 1977.