Interview with Suk-kyung Lee
On April 18, 1980, Suk-Kyung Lee was born in Busan, Korea. From her earliest childhood, Lee is passionate about drawing, she creates silhouettes and already associates different outfits.
Designer Interview
5 May 2020
From my earliest childhood, I'm passionate about drawing, I create silhouettes and already associates different outfits. Later, I started working in a clothing store and I experienced mixing plenty of different types of clothes. This experience enriched my tastes and my creativity. Convinced that this was my way, I went back to study fashion design in Tokyo at Mode Gakuen. For a personal reason, I had to leave Tokyo and to settle in Geneva. After having learned French, I started my study again at the IPAC DESIGN GENEVA where I’ve just graduated. With the passionate help of many teachers, I was able to further develop as a designer by learning how to develop even further my imagination and creativity to sublimate ideas from my mind into an actual design.
Bringing things to life and gives pleasure to someone. Like air, design exists all around us. I breathe it and generate ideas out of it.
The moment when feeling inspired, plenty of funny ideas in my head, I cannot wait to try these new ideas.
There are beautiful clothes everywhere but, in my view, they must contain a story that is special and that everyone can feel sympathy with.
A combination of good fabrics, unique and special design and a neat finish is my focus to create meaningful clothes.
A combination of good fabrics, unique and special design and a neat finish is my focus to create meaningful clothes.
I get energized by imagining someone wearing the clothes that I made. Creating new ideas that fill my head makes me fully motivated. When I see the progress and the result matching what I have planned, I feel full of happiness. I feel a sense of accomplishment, I feel alive.
I think that the design is the result of my passion, endless imagination, willingness to give as well as my personal story. All of these, combined to create a new harmony, fulfill a successful design.
Design is extremely subjective. Each individual has a different perspective, but I believe that it’s all about the first feeling. A good design should be able to catch the customer's attention in a very short time.
Good design should be created by meeting these needs, convincing ideas and emotions that appeal to the customers. Another key element to include in any creation is the respect of the environment.
Good design should be created by meeting these needs, convincing ideas and emotions that appeal to the customers. Another key element to include in any creation is the respect of the environment.
It's a little stale, banal, or cliché opinion but we need to protege this earth where nature and humans can coexist. We're borrowing the Earth for a while where the next generation will live on, so we need to be careful in choosing materials: actively reuse of recycling clothes, how materials are produced, … I think this is the minimal actionable way for everyone to coexist.
The collection 'Coexistence' was exhibited Geneva in May 2019 in Le Bal des Createurs, with the help of the director and founder Christophe Durand, a renowned hairdresser and a make-up artist who evolves in the world of Beauty.
I’m preparing my next exhibition for this year in Geneva where music and lyrics will meet fashion.
I’m preparing my next exhibition for this year in Geneva where music and lyrics will meet fashion.
My inspiration comes from everywhere. I enjoy watching movies and artworks’ exhibitions; observing people is another source. Even when dreaming, I find ideas.
My daily life, my experiences, my thoughts, everything is a source of inspiration.
My daily life, my experiences, my thoughts, everything is a source of inspiration.
Identifying intangible emotions, feelings, and abstract images from my mind to transform into clothes' silhouette, color, fabrics, and materials selection; then rearrange them into my designs and breathe new life into them.
Practicality is also an important element of my design.
I try to create items that have their own identity and also that many people can sympathize with. I believe that if the public turns away, even if it is Art, it cannot exist.
Practicality is also an important element of my design.
I try to create items that have their own identity and also that many people can sympathize with. I believe that if the public turns away, even if it is Art, it cannot exist.
Currently, I live in Geneva, Switzerland. However, I was born in Korea and have lived in Japan for many years. I think these experiences are a valuable asset to my creative activities. I can see and consider things from various perspectives, mix elements of both the Eastern and Western cultures; melt my experiences to create my own unique identity.
Usually, I take a couple of months to develop the concept, illustrate my work, develop the textile, and produce the pattern. Then, another two months to produce the actual outfit design. Finally, a few weeks for photo shooting and producing the book.
I am excited about new ideas every day. Every moment I design makes me happy and makes me feel I’m developing myself. But I cannot settle there.
I feel anxious about the idea that I always have to find a new trend. I am obsessed with the pressure when thinking that I must not be left behind. But even that pressure is a good stimulant that develops me and moderates all tension.
I feel anxious about the idea that I always have to find a new trend. I am obsessed with the pressure when thinking that I must not be left behind. But even that pressure is a good stimulant that develops me and moderates all tension.
My golden rule is to create a quality that makes me not to be ashamed when I look at the clothes I made.
Making valuable clothes that I would be keen to wear, to purchase, and pursuing a practical and customer-oriented design.
Making valuable clothes that I would be keen to wear, to purchase, and pursuing a practical and customer-oriented design.
There are many skills that a designer should have, but I think the infinite imagination, unbiased perspective, ability to embody as well as having a persuasive creative ability are the most important.
Once I get into work, I can't stop. It may be a bit extreme, but I don't even take time to sleep, I'm thinking about the project all day long, and I prefer to work at speed. When I need a new idea and encounter an obstacle, I put it out for a while and do something unrelated to design, waiting for a change of thought. When a new idea comes up, I immediately incorporate it into the design. Then, after a tense project, I enjoy relaxing before coming up with the next project.
Every design work gives me pleasure. Amongst them, working on developing the concept is what enjoys me the most.
I love my imagination being stimulated by that exercise and opening a window on so many and various possibilities.
I love my imagination being stimulated by that exercise and opening a window on so many and various possibilities.
I want to continue experimenting. I will continue to take on new challenges without fear of adventure like I have lived so far.
But first of all, I will enjoy working on my new show where music and lyrics will meet fashion.
But first of all, I will enjoy working on my new show where music and lyrics will meet fashion.
sukidecastelberg@gmail.com