Lie Sang Bong
South Korea
Lie Sang Bong is a Korean designer label named after its founder, who debuted as a designer in 1983 and has shown regularly in Paris since 2002. He has also worked with brands such as LG and Samsung.
| Debut | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Lie Sang Bong |
| Headquarters | Seoul, South Korea |
| Paris ready-to-wear | From 2002 |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
What is Lie Sang Bong?
Lie Sang Bong is a Korean fashion designer and the label that carries his name. He studied broadcasting and entertainment at the Seoul Institute of the Arts and began as an actor before moving into fashion.
History
His debut as a designer dates to 1983, when he placed in the Central Design Contest. Korean-language sources describe a Namsan headquarters and a Myeongdong store opened in 1985. He first joined the Paris Pret-a-Porter exhibition in 1990, returned in 1999, and joined the Paris ready-to-wear calendar from March 2002 under his brand name. By the 2014 spring/summer season he had taken part in 22 Paris Fashion Weeks. In 1999 he was nominated Best Designer of the Year by the mayor of Seoul. His first collection, The Reincarnation, was shown at Seoul Fashion Week in 1993.
Products and positioning
The label sells womenswear collections and custom designs. He has dressed celebrities including Beyonce, Rihanna and Lady Gaga, and designed a costume for figure skater Kim Yuna for Festa on Ice 2010. His work has also been shown in museum exhibitions.
Collaborations
Co-designed products include the LG Shine Phone Lie Sang-bong Limited Edition (2006), a limited-edition Esse tobacco case for KT&G (2007) and a Lie Sang-bong PC with Samsung. These tie-ups made his name known beyond fashion and reached a wider Korean audience, especially after his appearance on the television programme Muhandojeon in 2006.
Why it matters
Lie Sang Bong is one of the established names of Korean fashion who took a home-grown brand to the Paris calendar, long before the current wave of younger Korean labels. Public sources used here do not document the company's ownership, store count or sales, so none are given.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lie Sang Bong?
Lie Sang Bong is a Korean fashion designer and the founder of the label of the same name. He debuted as a designer in 1983 and shows in Paris.
Where is Lie Sang Bong from?
The brand is from South Korea, with its base in Seoul. It has also taken part in Paris Fashion Week regularly since 2002.