ANDRé KIM

'Andre Kim (Hangul: 앙드레 김)' is an Korean fashion designer based in Seoul, South Korea. He is known predominantly for his evening and wedding gown collections.

Contents

Biography

Fashion Biography

Future Plans

Style

Trivia

Honors

References

Biography

Andre Kim was born Kim Bong-nam, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, in 1935. He attended Hanyeong High School and graduated from the Kukje Fashion Design Academy^[1].
Kim’s personal life has remained relatively private; all that is known is he has never married and has not indicated a wish to do so, although he has an adopted son.

Fashion Biography

Kim has been in fashion design since 1962. At the age of 27 he opened "Salon Andre" in Sogong-dong, Central Seoul, becoming Korea’s first male fashion designer. In 1966 he became the first Korean to hold a fashion show in Paris. He would later go on to hold many other fashion shows in New York, Washington DC, Barcelona, Cairo, Sydney and Beijing ^[2].
In 1981, Kim was selected as Chief Designer for the 1981 Miss Universe beauty pageant. In 1988, he designed the uniforms of the Korean athletes for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Following this, he became a repeated invitee for occasions held by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 1997, he was presented with South Korea’s Presidential Culture and Art Medal for his contributions to the fashion industry. In 2003, he was awarded Italy’s Cultural Merit Award and was elected as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador.
In November 2006, Kim showcased his costumes at the Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Siem, Reap, Cambodia. The show was titled “Fashion Fantasia: Angkor Watt” and was the first fashion show held with the ancient temple as a backdrop. This fashion show was part of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 that kicked off in November 2006 and ran through Jan. 9, 2007. The 50-day event was titled “Ancient Future: The Myths of the Orient” and featured exhibitions on the Khmer civilization and the Silla culture “to provide an insight into the culture of Korea and Cambodia.” ^[3]That same month Kim also held a fashion show at Kyeongbok Palace on the 13th of 2006.
On February 10, 2007, Kim presented his menswear collection and was a celebrity judge for Manhunt International 2007 held at South Korea's Kangwonland International Convention Centre, a newly opened ski resort bidding for the next Winter Olympic Games
^[4]. In March, Kim appeared in Shanghai, China to hold a fashion show and then arrived in Washington, D.C. on June 19, 2007 to hold a charity fashion show to benefit the UNICEF. On May 7, 2007, Kim held a fashion show at the Big Pallet Convention Center in Koriyama, Japan to mark the year of Korea-Japan friendship^[1]. He also designed uniforms for the Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies in Yongin and took a foray out of clothes into designing washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners for Samsung
^[6]. Kim also has launched lines in cosmetics, golfing goods, sunglasses, and interior design of apartments.^[7]
On July 12, 2007, Kim held a fashion show in Wuhsi, China at the invitation of the Wuhsi municipal government and the large shopping mall ITFM (International Textile & Fashion Megamall) to celebrate both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 15th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Korea and China. The show was the tenth Kim has held in China so far since his first in 1993 to mark the first anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The show was entitled "Four Seasons Fantasy" and showcased some 180 costumes highlighted by several themes such as "White Night," which held Kim's clothes against a snowy backdrop, and the "World's Immortal Masterpieces," which featured medieval paintings on clothes.
^[8] Several Korean celebrities modeled; singers Ivy (singer) and Sohn Ho-young walked down the runway as special models, in addition to all 65 contestants of the 2007 Miss Korea Beauty Pageant. ^[9]

Future Plans

Kim will be staging a show celebrating the opening of a large art hall at Seoul National University in August 2007.
To celebrate the coming of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Kim was invited to present his designs, modeled by Korean celebrities Kim Rae-won and Kim Tae Hee, at a fashion show in Qingdao, China in September 2007^[10].

Style

The designs of André Kim are said to "combine classical designs with futuristic elements," often resulting in distinctive designs with bold, rich colors and motifs of Asiatic patterns, often of large roses, birds, or tree branches. For his fashion shows, Kim favors white-toned settings to bring out the unusual colours of his designs.
His designs are held in high regard by Korean celebrities, and many of these celebrities model in his fashion shows. His wedding dress fashion shows are particularly renowned for showcasing famous celebrities. Kim’s fame also extends beyond Korea’s borders, Michael Jackson once asking him to be his personal designer. However, Kim declined stating his clothes were for everyone ^[2].

Trivia

★ Known for his many eccentricities, one of which is wearing heavy black eye-liner ^[12] and wearing all-white outfits, which is said to be his favorite colour, often with a brightly coloured scarf.

★ Attends operas and musicals to see how they are staged.

★ Noted for maintaining a rigorous work schedule despite his age. Rising at 5:30 in the morning, he reads 17 newspapers and watches the 5 TVs in his apartment to remain up-to-date on the celebrity world. Between arriving at his office at 9 a.m. to work with this staff, designing new clothes, and meeting with guests, Kim once said it has been less than 10 years since he started to have lunch regularly ^[2].

★ Does not drink alcohol or coffee or smoke.

Honors

★ Chief designer of the 1981 Miss Universe beauty pageant

★ Italy's Cultural Merit Award, 1982

★ Presidential Culture & Art Medal, 1997

★ MBC Honorary Award, 2000

★ UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, 2003

★ Official fashion designer of Manhunt International, 2007

References

1. ''Endless Pursuit of Creativity (''KBS Global'') 2007
2. ''The ‘Andre Kim Effect’ (''Korea Focus'') April 27, 2006
3. ''First fashion Show at Angkor Wat (''Korea Herald'') December 12, 2006
4. ''Andre Kim - The Designer Extraordinaire (''Manhunt International'') 2007
5. ''Endless Pursuit of Creativity (''KBS Global'') 2007
6. ''Glam Up With A Gilded Washing Machine (''Scifi Tech'') February 2, 2007
7. ''The ‘Andre Kim Effect’ (''Korea Focus'') April 27, 2006.
8. ''Korean Fashion Gains Popularity in China (''KBS Global'') July 132007
9. ''Designer Andre Kim to Hold a Fashion Show in China (''KBS Global'') June 212007
10. ''Andre Kim to Hold Fashion Show in Beijing (''KBS Global'') July 162007
11. ''The ‘Andre Kim Effect’ (''Korea Focus'') April 27, 2006
12. The Koreans: Who they are, what they want, where their future lies, , Michael, Breen, Thomas Dunne Books, ,
13. ''The ‘Andre Kim Effect’ (''Korea Focus'') April 27, 2006