Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Seoul Fashion Week expands from DDP to Lotte World Tower for 2027 S/S season
The official poster for the Spring/Summer 2027 Seoul Fashion Week / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seoul Fashion Week has operated largely within and around the stark, futuristic curves of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza for the last 12 years, serving as an industry-facing platform for buyers, press and domestic designers. But as global demand for Korean style and pop culture continues to surge, the capital’s flagship fashion event is stepping out into the open city air.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that the upcoming Spring/Summer 2027 Seoul Fashion Week, running Sept. 1 to 6, will expand its footprint beyond its traditional home at DDP to include the grounds of Lotte World Tower, the nation’s tallest skyscraper in southeastern Seoul.
The strategic shift is designed to bridge commercial industry demands with direct-to-consumer experiences, turning a traditionally trade-focused gathering into a citywide public festival.
Under the dual-venue arrangement, DDP will remain the anchor for high-end designer showcases and business-to-business commerce, hosting 17 runway shows, eight brand presentations and a trade show featuring 97 labels. Designers long central to the event — including Lie Sang Bong and LIE — will present their collections there.
Meanwhile, the sprawling open-air plaza at Lotte World Tower’s World Park will host public-facing contemporary brand shows, pop-ups and cultural activations. To launch the new venue, high-fashion brand KIMHĒKIM will open the week with an outdoor runway show celebrating the label's 10th anniversary, alongside a preview of a collaboration with Adidas centered on the iconic Stan Smith sneaker.
The city is also introducing seamless "see-now, buy-now" features, enabling attendees at Lotte World Tower to purchase runway looks in real time using QR codes. Electric shuttles operated by BMW will transport buyers and international media between the two hubs, over 13 kilometers apart across the Han River.
To further weave retail and pop culture into the schedule, the event will feature an anniversary bazaar hosted by the K-pop group NCT, selling stage costumes and personal items for charity, as well as lifestyle streets featuring Korean beauty and food showcases.
“This season connects the industry heritage built at DDP with the public appeal of Lotte World Tower to elevate Seoul’s standing as a global fashion capital,” said Cho Hye-jung, director of creative industries at the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
By combining commercial trade shows with outdoor spectacles, Seoul officials said they hope to transform its runway week into an accessible urban festival — one where the city itself serves as a backdrop.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.