There's a lot of competition between global luxury brands that want to win over the hearts of consumers in Korea, but Rare Market is a concept shop that diverges from
other retailers in this area. This fashion shop caters to consumers who want to stand out and be recognized for their own style, not a designer brand name.
The shop in Seoul was co-founded by two friends who were on a mission to bring obscure designer brands to Korea. As a result, the pair have six annual buying trips, where they bring back an assortment of globally inspired pieces from everywhere from New York to Russia. Co-founder Jessica Jung says: "In Korea, it’s always Chanel, or Louis Vuitton, or Gucci, but now we have people coming in and saying, ‘Oh, what brand is this?'"
As well as having a foothold in Korea among a new generation of style-conscious women, Rebel Market has global appeal—it launched its own in-house line, We11Done, in collaboration with American 'Man Repeller' blogger Leandra Medine.
Counterculture Fashion Shops
Korea's 'Rare Market' Sells Alternatives to Global Designer Brands
Trend Themes
1. Alternative Fashion - Rare Market caters to consumers who want to stand out and be recognized for their own style, not a designer brand name.
2. Obscure Designer Brands - The founders of Rare Market bring back an assortment of globally inspired pieces from obscure designer brands during their buying trips.
3. Global Appeal - Rare Market's in-house line, We11Done, in collaboration with American 'Man Repeller' blogger Leandra Medine, has gained global appeal.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Retail - Rare Market's focus on alternative fashion presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the fashion retail industry.
2. Designer Brand Distribution - The success of Rare Market in bringing obscure designer brands to Korea opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in the designer brand distribution industry.
3. Fashion Collaboration - We11Done's collaboration with Leandra Medine demonstrates the potential for disruptive innovation in the fashion collaboration industry.