Namwoo Kim
Designer
Namwoo Kim is a New York based South Korean fashion designer. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and earned a BFA in Fashion Design with a specialisation in Sportswear and received the Critic's Award for her graduating collection.
Her design language merges soft silhouettes with utilitarian details, often exploring themes of
identity, belonging, and growth.
Currently, Namwoo is actively developing her own brand, and has released 2/3 of her collection 'Journey'. The collection is split into three chapters. Chapter 1 titled 'Old Memories' was released in April 2024, and Chapter 2 'The Encounter' was released in June this year. Namwoo is currently working on the final chapter. The collection portrays the ordinary experience of two young dreamers' journey through a tactile narrative of crafted pieces, worn by imaginary characters in a story.
We were eager to talk to Namwoo about her background, work, processes, and what influences her most. Here's what she had to say...
Solstice: Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up? Were you artistic as a child?
Namwoo: I didn’t grow up in a particularly artistic household, but I was surrounded by so much love and support. I was born and raised in Seoul, though I spent much of my childhood at my grandparents’ homes—one in Incheon, the other in Sangju. That balance between city and countryside gave me the freedom to observe and explore different environments across Korea.
In Sangju, I was surrounded by nostalgic landscapes—paddy fields, orchards, and farms—and I’d often wander through town, curious about everything around me. My mom used to call me the “why?” monster, because I always needed to understand how and why things were the way they were. I was especially fascinated by how people spoke, behaved, and dressed so differently depending on where they were. For me, I had to understand everything outside in the world so that I could build something original inside.
Looking back, I think that’s where my creativity started—not from making things at first, but from needing to make sense of them. When I eventually discovered that fashion wasn’t just about appearance, but could carry meaning and serve a purpose, I felt deeply drawn to it. Designing became my way of answering all those “whys”—and transforming them into something I could express and share through clothing.
Solstice: How did you get into fashion design? How/where did you learn the art and business sides of fashion design?
Namwoo: As a kid, I was always fascinated by how clothing and styling could completely transform a person’s appearance in movies and shows—almost as if it shifted their entire personality and confidence. That transformation felt powerful. But as I grew older and started observing how people actually dress in real life, my interest in fashion deepened. I became intrigued by how individuals use personal style to express themselves—how silhouettes, colors, and textures resonate differently with each person.
While I recognize that fashion has its limits when it comes to being truly “universal,” I’ve always believed there are many ways to find balance. It’s about understanding your audience and knowing how to communicate through your own design language. Each designer holds a different key to that balance.
Once I knew I wanted to pursue fashion seriously, it became clear that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and explore what was beyond what I already knew. That meant coming to New York—a place that felt like the perfect starting point for someone endlessly curious and open to discovery. I was fortunate to study at FIT, where I met inspiring mentors and peers who shared their industry knowledge and helped me gain confidence in presenting my work to a wider audience.
One of the most important lessons I learned was that to grow—not just as a designer, but as a person—you have to actively invite yourself into the community. Creativity doesn’t thrive in isolation; it evolves through connection, collaboration, and showing up fully as yourself.
Solstice: What is the main style/identity of your brand? Does your own personal style inform the style of your fashion design work or are they completely different to each other?
Namwoo: As of now, I’d like to say my brand’s most noticeable identity is being “nostalgically new.” Each design is rooted in personal memories and emotions—familiar feelings tied to moments from the past—yet reinterpreted through a fresh lens. There’s a quiet tension between softness and structure, comfort and function, creating pieces that feel emotionally lived-in while still bringing in a sense of newness.
My personal style definitely informs my design work, but not always in a direct or literal way. While I might dress more minimally or practical day-to-day, what I design often carries a more expressive or poetic tone. Still, both share a common thread: intentionality. Whether it’s in what I wear or what I make, I gravitate toward pieces that feel meaningful, comforting, and versatile. In that sense, my personal style and my work are different in expression but aligned in spirit.
Solstice: You spend your time between New York and South Korea. How do the two differ in terms of how the fashion industry is in those places and how do the different cultures affect you and your work?
Namwoo: When it comes to comparing the two locations, it becomes a matter of where I originate from as a person and where I develop my true form as a designer. It always offers interesting perspectives to my design process and the way I approach fashion. In Korea, I tend to gravitate towards more sophisticated and gentle designs, while in New York, I feel like there is no limit—there’s a boldness and freedom in expression that constantly pushes me to take risks, think bigger, and challenge conventional structures.
Culturally, Korea has this deep-rooted sense of harmony and refinement, and that naturally seeps into my work through subtle details, gentle silhouettes, and emotional sensitivity. Meanwhile, New York thrives on individuality, experimentation, and self-definition. That energy has taught me to be more unapologetic in my vision, to build resilience, and to communicate my ideas with clarity and confidence.
Navigating both environments gives me a dual perspective that I deeply value. It allows me to design from a place of balance—between refinement and exploration, tradition and evolution. Each place brings out different sides of me, and together they shape the voice of my brand.
Solstice: How do you balance creativity with practicality/function in your designs?
Namwoo: For me, the ultimate goal in design is to find that balance—how to communicate meaningfully through fashion while keeping it grounded in real, everyday use. I see it as an ongoing conversation between storytelling and practicality. While they might seem like an unusual pairing at first, I believe that the most impactful designs are the ones that speak to people emotionally while fitting seamlessly into their lives.
I don’t think fashion should require a high effort to wear; rather, it should be the thing that prepares you—something that makes you feel understood, supported, and seen. If a garment can carry a story and still feel instinctive to put on, then I feel I’ve done my job. Functionality doesn’t have to compete with creativity—it can actually be the frame that gives emotional design its shape and purpose.
Solstice: How did you get the inspiration for your collection ‘Journey’?
Namwoo: The thought of starting the collection ‘Journey’ came from a mundane routine of mine – going through my photo album from years ago to find peace in mind whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed about current situations. It’s something I’ve always done to find a bit of peace, a quiet escape. There’s something about revisiting the past that brings me both comfort and confidence—a sense that I’ve made it through before, and I will again. But this time, something felt different.
As I scrolled all the way back to photos from my childhood, I paused on one in particular: a picture of me and my grandfather by the water, holding a flatfish we had just caught. My face captured something so real—pure joy mixed with a hint of fear. At that moment, I found myself wondering, “What was she dreaming of? What did she think life would look like fifteen years from then?”
That image stirred something in me. There was a kind of sympathy and deep admiration for the little girl in the photo—for her innocence, her unknowing, and the endless possibilities ahead of her. It reminded me how little we truly know about what lies ahead, but how much hope we carry anyway. It made me want to create a collection that felt just like that moment—genuine, hopeful, and quietly powerful. Journey became a way for me to tell that story through clothing: a reflection of growth, of memories collected along the way, and of the gentle courage it takes to move forward.
Solstice: Describe the process from concept to final realised collection? What was your favourite part of the process?
Namwoo: Within my design process, there always has been a moment where I begin by writing—drafting different scenarios and imagining the lives of fictional characters. This step helps me fully immerse myself in the world I’m building, and gives shape to the story I want the collection to tell. I’ve always approached fashion as a form of storytelling—similar to screenwriting or poetry. It’s not just about wearing clothes; it’s about becoming someone, or stepping into a version of yourself you dream of being. It’s a form of living.
One of my favorite parts of developing the collection was experimenting with form, technique, and function through patternmaking and material manipulation. That’s where the collection started to come alive. I find the most joy in exploring silhouettes and details that carry cultural or environmental significance—whether it’s drawing from Boy Scouts’ uniforms, industrial tools, or even a line from a novel. There are truly no limits. That freedom allows me to dive into countless reference points and translate them into something personal, functional, and new—something that fits into the larger narrative I’m telling.
Solstice: What is your favourite piece from your collection ‘Journey’? Why?
Namwoo: While I truly believe that every piece in ‘Journey’ holds equal meaning to me, there is one that stands out as a personal favourite—The Explorer Coat. It’s the piece I spent the most time developing, both technically and emotionally. This coat was inspired by the adventurous spirit and utilitarian practicality of Boy Scouts—their uniforms, tools, and the resourcefulness embedded in their culture.
The silhouette is intentionally oversized, evoking the feeling of being wrapped in something protective and enduring. Functional zippers, adjustable cords, spacious pockets and convertible layers were all drawn from the structure of camping gear—like sleeping bags, tents, or multi-use packs—allowing the coat to transform and adapt, almost like a wearable survival kit. It’s a garment designed not just for style, but for resilience.
But beyond functionality, The Explorer Coat holds a deeper emotional layer. It represents the moment just before a journey begins—the careful anticipation, the uncertainty, and the hope. Its natural tones and weather-treated materials were carefully chosen and reworked to make it feel grounding and safe, like a trusted companion. To me, it’s more than just a coat—it’s a metaphor for preparation, courage, and the emotional challenge it takes to leave the familiar and step into the unknown journey ahead of them.
Solstice: How do you see your designs and brand growing and evolving in the next 5 years? Do you already have plans for your next collection?
Namwoo: I see my brand as a journal or photo album—something personal, evolving, and filled with blank pages still waiting to be filled up with new memories. It’s a form of documentation, a way of visualizing and preserving memories through design. To be completely honest, I don’t have a fixed vision of where the brand will be in five years—because the truth is, we can’t predict what tomorrow holds.
What I do know is that my work will continue to expand beyond clothing—into accessories, tools, costumes, and other multipurpose forms of art. I’m interested in pushing the boundaries of what fashion can be and how it can function in people’s lives. As I move forward, I’ll continue treating the brand like a best friend—something alive and ever-growing, something that keeps me grounded and pushes me to grow, both as a designer and as a person.
My upcoming collection will be the third chapter of Journey, where the narrative takes a new turn, introducing unfamiliar characters and unexpected situations. I’ll leave the rest open—for now—for the imagination of the reader.
