Press Review: Lie Sang Bong
By: Style-ology Magazine Fashion Correspondent Kim Green
Lie Sang Bong is an architect. His materials include leather and Korean Jogakbo. His blueprints layout amazing, colorful clothing that could be transferred to a great artist’s canvas. His fashion shows are Broadway productions on a runway. Considered Korea’s best fashion designer, many would rather regard him as one of Korea’s best gifts to the artistic world. And throughout the 25 years of his career, he has received the accolades that most designers only read about in fashion magazines.
In his book, “The Truth of Lie Sang Bong,” he explains his outlook on fashion. “Fashion to me is something that goes beyond commercial clothing. The charm of fashion rests where industry and art intertwine and find harmony together.” Lie’s pieces make you want to take a walk on the cusp between art and fashion, free from any previous concerns with being “too over the top” or “too far out.”
His Fall Winter 2011/2012 collection uses the finest Italian leathers in whites and blacks adorned with the circular, raised patterns that invite you to imagine yourself wearing them. The leather skirts, tops and jackets are light and can be combined and interchanged almost effortlessly to communicate a powerful, warm message and to command a second and third glance. The pattern is continued in large belts, bags and in select dresses in the collection.
For Spring Summer 2012, Lie Sang Bong continues raised patterns, but in shades of tan leather accented with intricate patterns on asymmetrical short shirts, form-fitting leather dresses and coordinating jackets. If you look closely, you’ll notice the blue, floral lining that seals each loop, circle and curve.
The spring collection adds color in combinations that seem naturally complimentary. Lie uses color either as an accent to a solid color piece or the piece is color. The finale piece of the spring collection is a blue-green, black leather dress with the same circular pattern that accents other pieces in the collection; however, this dress is a continuous lattice pattern which begins below the shoulders and flows to the ground. Tights of the same coloring and pattern accessorize the dress. What we witness in Lie’s collection is a spiritual gift taking a form and we have the chance to experience it and breathe it in. Talent like this is not learned, but nurtured and shared. Thank goodness that we’re the recipients of such an experience.
If you’d like to view Lie’s collections, including a new men’s line, it is currently housed in New York City at Blank Space in Chelsea. Director Nana Lee shows this collection as if she is proud to be one of the few to “breathe it in” on a daily basis.
Lie Sang Bong (www.liesangbong.com) has more colors to reintroduce to us. And we, are ready to receive!
