IISE continues to celebrate Korea and its rich heritage in collaboration with New Era as the two draw inspiration from the traditional Gat Hats. The headwear was originally worn by the Yangban ruling class during the Korean Koseon dynasty. It was restricted to those that specifically passed the gwageo civil service exam and served as a representation of social status and protected topknots as well.
It was often traditionally crafted by ganniljang artisans that strung horsehair on top of a cylindrical wide brim frame made from bamboo to create a slightly clear look. The collection is made up of 6 panel caps and bucket hats. The color palette is minimal and monochromatic with options of black and white.
Dynasty-Inspired Hat Collections
IISE and New Era Join Forces to Drop a Range Inspired by Gat Hats
Trend Themes
1. Cultural Collaboration - Opportunity for brands to collaborate and draw inspiration from traditional cultural symbols.
2. Heritage Fashion - Growing demand for fashion items that celebrate and pay homage to rich cultural heritage.
3. Minimalistic Color Palette - Preference for monochromatic color schemes in fashion collections.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Fashion brands can explore collaborations and create collections inspired by traditional symbols and rich heritage.
2. Cultural Tourism - Opportunity for tourist destinations to promote traditional cultural symbols and heritage through fashion collaborations.
3. Artisan Craftsmanship - Artisans and craftsmen can create unique products incorporating traditional techniques and cultural symbolism.