Hanyang Women's University teacher designs equestrian uniform

Kang Hee-myung

By Kim Se-jeong

Kang Hee-myung, a professor of the knit fashion design department at Hanyang Women's University, has become the first Korean designer to redesign uniforms worn by equestrian athletes in Korea.

Her uniform is now available for the 20 young members of the South Seoul Horse Club, a private equestrian club based in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

“Equestrian uniform design is dominated by the West and hasn't changed since the sport arrived in Korea. I wanted to give the uniform a Korean identity by adding distinctive colors,” Kang said.

Jackets designed by Kang Hee-myung

To create this identity, she added colored piping to the jacket collars, and changed the silhouette of the jacket by adding a double vent, which the designer incorporated after being inspired by a drawing of Cheonmado, a drawing of a horse from Cheonmachong Tomb in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

The design was part of a joint branding project for equestrian fashion between the university and the club which started last year.

She said the uniform is made of a unique material, too.

“I wanted to use a new material, instead of wool or cotton that would absorb sweat faster and stay light.” But she refused to disclose the name of it, adding that she is in the process of getting a patent.

Teaching at Hanyang since 2016, Prof. Kang also co-founded KOOK, a lifestyle design brand, together with her colleagues at Hanyang. Before joining the school, she worked at other fashion design houses like Dongseung Arc, Io'd Kim Dong-su and Marie Belle as a designer.