Hannam, a neighborhood in Seoul’s Itaewon district, sits nestled between the scenic Namsan Mountain and the Han River, right at the heart of the city. This area of Seoul is widely known for the diverse range of establishments it has to offer and is growing increasingly popular with residents and visitors alike – Itaewon was selected by 10 million domestic Instagram users as a ‘2018 Must-Visit Spot’ in Korea.
So what is so special about Hannam? Head down its unofficial high street, Itaewon-ro, and you will come across a selection of trendy boutiques, architectural statements and leading art galleries that contribute to its reputation as one of the most artistic areas in Seoul, more understated than its flashier counterparts like Gangnam’s Garosu-gil. In order to get you up to speed with the hidden gems Hannam has to offer, Samsung C&T Newsroom has put together a guide to the neighborhood’s must-know sartorial hotspots.
A Unique Fashion Destination
The very latest addition to Hannam’s sartorial landscape is leading trendy-but-professional formalwear label, Suitsupply. The menswear brand has been winning over young professionals since 2000 thanks to its high-quality, fashion-forward business apparel, and is equally well known for its discerning – and often unconventional – retail location choices.
Suitsupply’s Hannam store, its second Korean flagship, can be found along the scenic Hoenamu-ro – both the first and second floors of the store open up onto chic terraces that offer spectacular views of Namsan Tower. These spaces are also available to be used for meetings and even parties by customers.
The ground floor of the Suitsupply Hannam store features the brand’s casualwear offering, with a dynamic ‘tie wall’ display highlighting the wealth of options available for gentlemen, whatever their taste.
Heading up to the second floor, you will find the full range of the brand’s signature suits and formalwear. However, if you are looking for something a bit more personalized, on the basement floor of the store you can book a private consultation with the brand’s highly-trained Made To Measure (‘MTM’) specialists for bespoke tailoring services.
Visit the Suitsupply website for more information on the brand’s latest store.
Exploring Hannam Five More Hidden Gems for Trend Seekers
Next up after a visit to the brand-new of Suitsupply store is Hannam’s distinguished high street – Itaewon-ro – which boasts five of the mellow yet chic neighborhood’s most fashionable offerings.
Heading south down Itaewon-ro from Hangangjin station, the first must-visit store you will encounter is Comme des Garçons, the local flagship store of the Japanese avant-garde brand.
Not only does the store include the total lifestyle offering of the brand from fashion to art, but this six-story building built with an eye-catching tunnel-like structure functions as a cultural complex too, with a gallery and café on offer to visitors.
Check out the brand’s website for more information.
The next stop along the Itaewon-ro for curious culture enthusiasts is Korean designer brand JUUN.J. Having recently impressed with their most recent presentation at Paris Fashion Week, JUUN.J’s Hannam pop-up store offers visitors the chance to browse the brand’s latest collections – including, from this spring, their first full womenswear collection.
JUUN.J Hannam is also worth a visit for its unusual store site, having been fabricated out of old shipping containers – a stand-out sight within the dynamic architecture of Hannam.
Visit JUUN.J’s website for more information.
Heading further into Hannam, the next must-visit location is KUHO’s flagship store, open since October 2017. Not only can visitors shop the brand’s latest Spring/Summer ’19 collection in its entirety, but they’ll also be able to take in some local talent, as the store regularly runs exhibitions of art by up-and-coming creatives.
Visit KUHO’s website for more information.
Next up on the tour is the minimalist construction of American brand Theory’s flagship store, open since mid-2018. After you’ve checked out the store’s striking interior, head inside to shop the brand’s clothes and accessories.
But the five-story building’s offering goes beyond just fashion; the second and third floors include a performance hall for jazz and classical performances, and the fourth floor offers a relaxing café developed with a professional audio player company for a dynamic fusion of fashion and music.
Visit the store’s website for more information.
The final stop on this fashion tour of Hannam is the multifarious BEAKER flagship store. Not only does this trendy store offer its own collection, but also exclusively retails a dynamic range of brands from Europe and America, as well as up-and-coming homegrown Korean brands.
Not only is the store a great place to get your finger on the pulse of international fashion, but also worth a visit thanks to its unique interior, constructed with materials from torn-down buildings around Seoul.
Visit the SSF Store website for more information and the full range of brands on offer at BEAKER.
Along with the Cheongdam and Hannam flagships, Suitsupply also retails at 6 leading department stores in Korea. Samsung C&T hopes you enjoy exploring Hannam – but if you can’t wait to check out the latest collections of the brands mentioned above, head to the SSF Online Store.
