HARDWORKUP ↑↑

I'm having flashbacks. It's 2003. My parents are in the living room dancing. The vibes are immaculate and everyone in the house (even grandma) is dancing too Shaggy and whinning to Sean Paul. The temperature is rising. And so are these shoooes.

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Jisoon Kim understands the vibe. But flips it. Whether it’s transforming old shoes into garments during his university days or turning discarded items into something completely new. His childhood fascination with tools and wooden figures shaped his creative instincts, as did his admiration for familiar silhouettes. These influences culminated in the ‘Wine Bag,’ a project that went viral in April 2023 and born from a creative slump-reconnecting him with the joy of making

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As I chatted with Kim over IG, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by how his persistence makes the ambitious seem effortless.

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How did you get started in fashion?

When I think about it, I remember my mom always dressing me in Levi’s clothes during elementary school. My nickname back then was even “Levi’s” because my wardrobe was filled only with Levi’s. Could that have been the moment I first felt the essence of fashion? In high school, I studied art and pursued a degree in fashion design at a university in Busan. Joining my first job at Gentle Monster’s subsidiary dessert brand Nudake ^[1] in Busan, I believe, marked my true entry into the world of fashion.

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Why did you choose recycling in your work?

In our school, there’s an advanced course called “Creative Root Design” that students can take from the 2nd to the 3rd year. In this advanced course, I was able to explore more creative and experimental fashion designs. During a class called ‘Recycle,’ I ended up creating clothes using discarded materials, specifically making garments from old shoes.

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What creative activities did you engage in during your childhood?

I used to visit a souvenir shop in a Korean tourist spot called ‘Ganjeolgot’ ^[2], where I often bought wooden figures. I enjoyed assembling them at home. I also had a fascination with hardware stores and places selling various tools.

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Please tell us about your upbringing. How are your parents doing?

I lived in Ulsan, a city in South Korea known for its industrial sector, until high school. My father worked at Hyundai Securities, and my mother was a public servant at Ulsan City Hall. I have one older sister who influenced me a lot in art and fashion. Growing up, we frequently commuted to Seoul together. My mother had a strong focus on education, and both my sister and I attended various academies for subjects like violin, piano, art, and flute during our childhood.

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How do you think about the “why” in your work?

It’s a thought-provoking question. When I used to work in content creation, the question of why we should upload videos and photos was crucial. Understanding the purpose and context was important for creating content that engages and leaves a lasting impression. Now, as I work on my own projects, I’m trying to embrace the “why” because I believe expressing my unique perspective is essential, even if the interpretation is left to the consumers and viewers.

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How do you come up with ideas? Do you get inspiration from dreams or does it happen naturally?

I often find inspiration by observing everyday products and wondering if their form and material can be repurposed into something different. Sometimes, ideas come to me spontaneously, like when I close my eyes briefly and an image suddenly pops into my mind.

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Among the projects you’ve worked on so far, which one stands out the most or was most enjoyable? Please share the reasons.

The most memorable project for me is the ‘Wine Bag’ project. It took a long time to create, and the process was challenging. After directing digital content at Gentle Monster’s Nudake (2020-2022) and directing content for the fashion brand WE11DONE (2023), I felt limited in expressing my ideas within the corporate setting. This led to a period of creative slump. Starting the ‘Wine Bag’ project in 2023 was my attempt to believe in myself again and continue creating my artwork. It stemmed from my experience of seeing a father enjoying wine alone at an outdoor table in a Parisian wine shop during my travels, sparking a connection between my art and the allure of wine.

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Can you provide a step-by-step explanation of a project to introduce a redesigned design on a website?

I’d like to describe a recent bike project that feels true to myself.

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[1] Idea Generation: Collecting images and brainstorming ideas for creating a piece with two different product categories.

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[2] Material Search: Considering the characteristics of the product and researching shapes and materials that match the concept.

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[3] Production: Disassembling various products to study their forms and experimenting with collage to determine which elements to keep, modify, or discard.

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Example: Bike Gloves Heels - Creating heels that provide a snug feeling similar to fingers wrapped around toes.

[Choosing the material of Alpinestars gloves ^[3] with a firm finger area and the material of bike gloves to blend seamlessly with leather heels]

[Rearranging the finger section of the gloves to encircle the toes, creating a protective ankle part by relocating the wrist section]

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What excites you about the intersection of technology, and art, today?

I see AI technology as an additional means of expression. In the AI era, individuals can produce images independently, saving both time and money that would otherwise be spent in a collaborative setting. This ability to create compelling images that evoke diverse emotions in viewers is a positive aspect. However, I lean towards appreciating tangible, real-world creations, and using AI solely for generating virtual products lacks appeal to me. I prefer showcasing my unique creations in the physical realm and view AI as a tool to enhance the content creation process.

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