For his spring collection, Kiminte Kimhēkim remixed his own greatest hits. House motifs of bows, pearls and hearts were glittered up with a disco shine for the brand’s ninth birthday.
“The message of disco and K-pop are related,” Kimhēkim said backstage after the show. “They’re both about the freedom to be yourself, love yourself and embrace yourself. So I wanted to bring some of that fresh and lighter vibe, [meshed] with our highlights from the past nine years.”
Set to a soundtrack that included both Donna Summer and BTS’ Jungkook, Kimhēkim was in the mood to celebrate.
That translated into heart appliqués on transparent skirts or stitched together as singlets, strings of pearls forming an exquisite exoskeleton dress, and denim peplums layered over sweatpants. These are Kimhēkim’s favorite toys, and he plays with them well season after season. It’s only in the later looks that his excellent tailoring and unique take on shape stands out, such as deep chocolate coordinates with barrel-legged harem pants.
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A double-jacket minidress, also worn by K-pop star Jeon Somi in the front row, was another structural standout.
The show was supported by the Korean government’s KOCCA cultural initiative, part of its second program aimed at spotlighting independent designers in Paris, and drawing a through line from K-pop to K-fashion.
It also marked the debut of Kimhēkim’s collaboration with Asics, five tonal sneakers stitched with the brand’s signature heart motif. Clear vinyl handbags were filled with Haribo candies, and models were clearly instructed to have fun, smiling and swirling on a raised platform.
It was all very charming and classic Kimhēkim. But with nearly a decade of his own brand under his belt, he shouldn’t be afraid to try to branch out, to avoid the risk of becoming one note.