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We've been talking about clothing, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic. What influences a person's choice of clothes in your country? I once heard the expression, "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," and it struck a chord with me. I think this posturing essentially drives the choice of clothes in my country. What I mean is people try to project an image of success and wealth, even when that is not the reality. Of course, this is just a generalisation. A great proportion of people just want to be modern and somewhat in fashion but not in an obsessive way. Then, there are the people who wear whatever they have and see clothing as functional and not decorative. On what occasions or national holidays do people put on special clothes? In Korea, we dress for religious holidays, no matter if we are celebrating at home or out with friends and family. Men will wear suits or perhaps even traditional garments. Women will wear their finest clothes and jewellery, and this attire is all part of the fanfare of a holiday. The same applies for major celebrations like weddings and baptisms, where dressing well is deemed a sign of respect. Do you think the fashion industry affects the choice of clothes of different age groups? Of course it does. Yet, I think the customer also affects the fashion industry. A fashion company has to target customers and create with that image in mind. In turn, the customer identifies with the image of a company and will dress accordingly. A high street brand will most likely have a 20-something as its customer, while upmarket brands will create lines to appeal to the needs and wants of an older client. In the end, both customer and company end up influencing one another. Do you think people will start dressing in similar clothes in the future? I think young people will always try to be hip, new and trendy, perhaps even a little bit provocative, while older people will always try to show an air of maturity, seriousness and authority. What that will look like will depend on where fashion takes us but generally speaking, I see this as being a general tenet.
By Ryan HigginsWe've been talking about clothing, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic. What influences a person's choice of clothes in your country? I once heard the expression, "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," and it struck a chord with me. I think this posturing essentially drives the choice of clothes in my country. What I mean is people try to project an image of success and wealth, even when that is not the reality. Of course, this is just a generalisation. A great proportion of people just want to be modern and somewhat in fashion but not in an obsessive way. Then, there are the people who wear whatever they have and see clothing as functional and not decorative. On what occasions or national holidays do people put on special clothes? In Korea, we dress for religious holidays, no matter if we are celebrating at home or out with friends and family. Men will wear suits or perhaps even traditional garments. Women will wear their finest clothes and jewellery, and this attire is all part of the fanfare of a holiday. The same applies for major celebrations like weddings and baptisms, where dressing well is deemed a sign of respect. Do you think the fashion industry affects the choice of clothes of different age groups? Of course it does. Yet, I think the customer also affects the fashion industry. A fashion company has to target customers and create with that image in mind. In turn, the customer identifies with the image of a company and will dress accordingly. A high street brand will most likely have a 20-something as its customer, while upmarket brands will create lines to appeal to the needs and wants of an older client. In the end, both customer and company end up influencing one another. Do you think people will start dressing in similar clothes in the future? I think young people will always try to be hip, new and trendy, perhaps even a little bit provocative, while older people will always try to show an air of maturity, seriousness and authority. What that will look like will depend on where fashion takes us but generally speaking, I see this as being a general tenet.