Favorite Brick and Mortar
Here’s a list of my picks from my visit. Below are links and a short description. I had a lot of fun talking to the staff members at Supply Route, Still Nice and Kith. They had a Double RL store in Lotte World Mall which was great to check out.
Heritage
- Supply Route: A Red Wing authorized store. Downstairs is catered towards Red Wing and boot repair, upstairs has clothing denim, etc.
- Joe’s Garage: Japanese Americana focused, a lot of Boncoura and Toys McCoy. They have their own denim but otherwise not much in the way of their own stuff.
- Rugged Bronson: A pop up store by Bronson Mfg. alongside other Chinese brands such as Non Stock, Red Tornado and Cooperstown Ball Cap.
Vintage
- Still Nice: Lots of everyday vintage as well as premium brands with a fun atmosphere. Had some cool hats from Supreme and Aimé Leon Dore and we almost took home a Ralph Olympic USA Track Jacket.
Streetwear
- Kith Seoul: What you’d expect from Kith. Has a Kith Treats next door. Definitely worth a visit. The staff were extremely friendly and fun to talk to.
Recommended By Locals
- Heritage Floss/Sport & Casual: They go by two names not sure the difference between the two. I ended up getting a sweater on sale, quality was solid. I went to the one in Itaewon, but I've been told the Hanam location is the flagship.
- Adresser: Admittedly was not able to come by this place, but was told it was worth my while. If you can, please do go and let us know what you thought.
Korean Style From My Perspective
Korean style around the different neighborhoods in Seoul was very uniform. Mostly black or dark colors like navy, olive and for lighter colors white or tan. Boxy fit and relaxed hemmed jeans are standard. Long coats also known as 롱코트 are very common, as I went in the end of winter or beginning of spring. Bomber and cropped suede jackets were popular as well. Couples also tend to match and coordinate their outfits. Branding is minimal and sneakers are the footwear of choice. I saw plenty of New Balance and Adidas, but less Nike. Fit and appearance was king over materials, branding and build.
Alternatives
Although we like to focus on the higher-end and well-made clothes, fast fashion is all around us. Not everyone’s wardrobe can be made entirely of heritage or buy it for life type items. Here are some brands that I found worth checking out, similar to Uniqlo for Korea. I ended up with a Rugby Polo from Spao.
Closing Remarks
I had an amazing time in Korea, I love the food, the cafes, and if you get the chance, I highly recommend relaxing at a jjimjilbang! Vintage clothing is a lot more popular, while unfortunately for me workwear and streetwear takes a back seat.
— Tyler
