'Punk' is keyword for 2017 S/S fashion

Fashion models pose in the Spanish clothing retail giant Zara's 2017 Spring and Summer collection campaign image. / Courtesy of Zara

By Kim Jae-heun

Winter is ending and spring nearing. Many fashion brands are presenting their 2017 spring and summer collections ahead of the arriving season and the new key trends are the color orange and punk.

Zara, the world’s largest apparel retailer and Inditex group’s main brand, introduced its new collection last Thursday at its showroom in Gangnam, Seoul.

The Spanish brand ― well known for its biweekly distribution system of updated trends throughout the world ― is often the yardstick for the latest, hottest items. Zara designers catch the latest trends at fashion runways and reflect them instantly in the market by mass-producing similar looks. Popular clothes worn by Hollywood celebrities this week could be found at Zara stores the next week.

Zara’s 2017 spring and summer collection shows vivid colors of orange, pink and purple inspired by the film “Her” (2013), while sleeveless blouses and dresses with ruffle designs are also making a spring appearance. Basic items with camouflage designs, stripes and dot patterns made their regular presence alongside flamboyant floral embroidery and spangles.

Zara also showed its collaboration line with the English rock band The Rolling Stones in its punk rock style collection including denim jackets and sweatshirts with unique colors and lettering.

Fashion models pose at the MCM’s 2017 Spring and Summer collection showcase at its flagship store MCM HAUS in Seoul, last Wednesday. / Courtesy of MCM Worldwide

The brand official said Zara has successfully launched its new collection with its unique mood The women’s line is feminine and sweet while the men’s collection is charismatic.

The British footwear and clothing brand Dr. Martens also showcased punk rock styles for the 2017 spring and summer trend, albeit this has always been its aesthetic. At its recent collection presentation held at the cultural complex in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 24, Dr. Martens introduced this season’s shoes inspired by grunge, which was popular among Western young people in the ‘90s and Dr. Martens has made efforts to design shoes with a bold and defiant mood.

The new “Splatter” collection with colorful paintings and the “Bandana” collection seasoned with paisley-patterns plus the hippy “Tie-dye” collection has upgraded its former style of freewheeling ideology.

The British footwear brand also collaborates with popular American animation TV series “Beavis and Butthead” to celebrate its 20th anniversary and printed Raphael’s “Saint George and the Fighting Dragon” on its artwork project collection.

Dr. Marten’s official said the grunge culture has not only influenced the global music industry in such a short period, but also the music charts and it changed the live circuit trend.

“Dr. Martens was much influenced by the grunge culture that led the global trend in the 1990s and we cannot think about the brand dissociated with the theme,” added the official.

The leather luxury goods brand MCM, brought out by Sungjoo Group, opened another punk-rock inspired collection titled “Punk Ethos” at its flagship store MCM HAUS in Seoul, last Wednesday.

The brand reinterpreted 1970s punk culture in its heritage place Munich in a modern style by adding vintage street fashion to items like backpacks, shoulder bags as well as rider jackets and slip-on shoes.

During the new collection presentation, MCM decorated the flagship store with neon art, graffiti and arcade games and fashion models used items like roller skates and skateboards to present the Punk Ethos collection.

The British footwear and clothing brand Dr. Martens showcases new punk rock styles for 2017 Spring and Summer at its presentation held at the cultural complex in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 24. / Courtesy of Dr.Martens

The French brand Louis Quatorze has decided to stick to its “modern French” sensibilities with future-oriented elements. The spring and summer collection bases its identity on the traditional French style in Louis XIV and reinterprets the French culture, architecture and arts from the 1950s as the future.

The collection items include hand bags of primary colors as well as scarf and sunglasses that have been placed on futuristic sculptures of triangular and rectangular shapes during the press presentation.

“I tried to introduce the seasonal collection in a new way using the culture complex established by MCM and allow consumers to experience our theme through the exhibition here,” said the creative director Kan Ho-seob.

The Swedish clothing-retail giant H&M launched their spring and summer preview collection for one of its five individual concept brand “& Other Stories” at a cafe in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Tuesday.

At its first store opening in Korea and Asia next month, & Other Stories will present items based on its identity of bohemian escapism theme. The brand showcases a women’s line of ultra-feminine and decorative silhouette clothes that keeps the design strong and minimalistic. The brand hopes to capture an innovative approach to the modern woman’s wardrobe through volume and shape.

“We’re very happy to be reaching Asia and welcome South Korea to our family of stores. We believe that the Koreans’ approach to fashion is expressive and inspiring with a great sense of individuality. Look forward to the opening and sharing stories with new fashion and beauty loving customers,” said Samuel Fernstrom, managing director of & Other Stories.