SOUTH KOREA: SEOUL HAS ITS FIRST FASHION SHOW FOR " BIG WOMEN FASHION"

Record ID: 862127

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: SEOUL HAS ITS FIRST FASHION SHOW FOR " BIG WOMEN FASHION"
  • Date: 9th April 2005
  • Summary: (L!1) SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (APRIL 9, 2005) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OVERSIZED WOMEN IN SHORTS AND SKIRTS ON CATWALK (1.13)
  • Embargoed: 24th April 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City:
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Business,Fashion
  • Reuters ID: LVA91HEX68VVZNMVBCFUDXXZLOXE
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Oversized women confidently strut the catwalks in Seoul to present a different perspective on being large for South Korea's looks-conscious society.
    Tight mini-skirts paired with black mesh stockings and sleeveless tops worn under see-through cardigans reveal the fleshy arms and ample thighs of models on a catwalk in Seoul.
    The 2005 Big Women Fashion Show is the first fashion show of its kind for oversized women held on Saturday (April 9) in South Korea, where women ferociously strive to be slim and fit. The plastic surgery industry also enjoys a continuous boom.
    Overweight women are often patronised in South Korea and shopping choices for them are very limited - fashionable and trendy apparel is rarely manufactured in big sizes, let alone women's casual wear.
    Yet the event gave heavyset models a chance to chip at a culture that demands beauty comes first. Twenty models, ranging from college students to office workers and housewives, strutted the catwalk wearing trendy clothes that allowed them to feel feminine, bold, carefree and sexy.
    "We are holding this event to allow those born big the chance to follow trends and wear beautiful clothes and at the same time, spread a culture of being able to be confident with living the way one is born," said Park Young-sook, president of the Korea Foundation for Women, which hosted the event.
    Several models smiled shyly on the catwalk while walking in silk skirts with baby-pink lace and flower dresses while others strutted confidently in purple-dyed halter tops and jeans with elaborate designs.
    "I gained a lot of confidence and life has become fun.
    I realise that life can be like this and except the fact that we are labelled with the word "big" in front, there is that 'something' about being a model," said 27-year-old Chung Hae-ryun.
    Model Kim Sun-hee said seeing her friends clap and cheer for her when she walked down the stage has changed her feelings about her relationships and made her feel happy.
    "I gave a sign to my friends while on the catwalk and they started to clap for me. My thought towards my friends has changed and I realised that I can be confident about myself. I am very happy," the 25-year-old said.
    Plus-size jazz singer Yoon Hee-jung also graced the show with her daughter, who is part of a vocal group called the "Bubble Sisters." The group gained popularity in mainstream Korean pop after boldly singing about the perils of being overweight and overcoming them.
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