The SS18 collection explores street art, taking WOOYOUNGMI’s romantic lifestyle into the real and active world of the skater. Watching “Lords of Dogtown” the biopic of a group of ferocious young L.A. skaters known as the Z-Boys, Mme Woo and Katie Chung were captivated by the gritty lifestyle and attitude, a stark contrast to the romantic and sophisticated universe of WOOYOUNGMI.

The surfboard shop where the team came together was the first place to combine art with boards, pulling graphics from local graffiti. Art being so closely bound with real life appealed to the duo. Looking further at the relationship between street art and skaters they were drawn to pro-skaters Mark Gonzales, Lance Mountain and Steve Caballero and their lifestyles, a free-spirited mix of skating and art. “For me, skateboarding is still very much about what’s happening right now, in this moment” – The Gonz, skater & artist.

Maintaining the laid back attitude of the skater, the uniform is refined through elegant fabrication and detailing, while introducing new sport elements to WOOYOUNGMI’s delicate aesthetic. The ever-present tartan shirt is re-done in gauzy double layers of acid yellow.  Detailed loose sweatshirts and shirts give a nod to the half-tucked casual manner of the skate park. Japanese denims are over-bleached and cropped with a buttoned cuff, whereas the paisley bandana prints is hand drawn to create a more delicate and artistic motif, printed on silk shirts and embroidered onto denims.  The tomato red tartans and ginghams, forest green and Capri blue punctuate a more sober palette of grey, navy and white, making it somewhat rich within tones.

The elegant WOOYOUNGMI man is styled in relaxed, undone tailoring- cargo trousers combined with field jackets or over-sized suit jackets are a non-conformist take on tailoring, in virgin wools or soft cotton twills with embroidery. A photo of renowned skater Tony Hawk riding his board in a tailored suit stuck with the designers, visualising an urban skate scene of unbuttoned collars and loosened neckties, with a technical parka thrown on top. The WOOYOUNGMI logo is a feature of the season, stamped across the sole of skate-style footwear, t-shirts and knitwear.

Not only is this a bold statement, with a youthful vision, but somewhat of a balanced structure- giving it a robust appearance.