Korean designer Kathleen Kye is known in Seoul for her high-end streetwear looks, and after showing just four collections during New York Fashion Week, she’s generated buzz Stateside for her bold and witty K-Pop-inspired looks. This season she referenced her thoughts on hate, or rather, the kind of hate akin to friendly jealously.
The inspiration came across as literal text on tops and jackets, with graphics Kye makes herself in Korea. As expected, prints were abundant in the women’s looks, if even slightly tamer than in seasons past. It was the muted and minimal designs that stood out: a cotton off-the-shoulder cropped top with long sleeves, a languid silk pants combo and a gray cotton sweatshirt with side laces worn over metallic sweater shorts.
While the men’s wear looks were vibrant, they left something to be desired. Kye relied on her tried-and-true streetwear staples — sweatshirts, jogger pants and bomber jackets — but neglected to update them in an interesting way. The highlights were looks with texture: a black-and-white fabric color-blocked jacket featuring a snake print, and a black and gold metallic foil baseball jacket. It’s clear that Kye has ample ideas, but she could benefit from pushing the envelope when executing them.
