Revitalizing the Fashion Sewing Industry in Seoul's Northeast 4 Districts through 'K-POP + Fashion' Integration

Promotion of 'Showcase' Including Performances Wearing Costumes Made by Excellent Companies

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a new marketing approach linking K-POP and fashion in the northeastern four districts?Gangbuk-gu, Nowon-gu, Dobong-gu, and Seongbuk-gu?to revitalize the fashion and garment industry.

On the 14th, Seoul announced a bidding notice for the "K-POP Linked Northeastern Four Districts Fashion and Garment Industry Revitalization Conference Agency Service," which will proactively lead the entire process including showcases and conferences. A budget of 250 million KRW will be invested.

Currently, the northeastern four districts are transforming from Seoul’s representative bedroom communities into new economic centers where workplaces and living spaces coexist, as well as global music cities where production, consumption, and distribution of popular culture occur simultaneously, through projects such as the "Changdong-Sanggye New Economic Center Development Project." Since its opening in 2016, "Platform Changdong 61" has been hosting directors in music and fashion fields who are conducting urban regeneration projects.

Notably, nearly 20% of Seoul’s fashion and garment companies are concentrated in this area. However, they have recently faced difficulties due to commercial district decline and sales decreases.

Seoul aims to inject new vitality into the stagnant fashion and garment industry and enhance the competitiveness of excellent companies and products through a new marketing model that leverages the regional characteristics of the northeastern four districts.

First, two "showcases" will be held to discover outstanding fashion and garment companies in the northeastern four districts. These will be conducted by staging K-POP performances loved worldwide featuring costumes born in the region, among other methods. Showcase videos and photos can be used for online advertisements or lookbooks.

Based on these diverse marketing results, a "conference" involving experts and fashion and garment industry practitioners will be held to devise plans for revitalizing the fashion and garment industry in the northeastern four districts.

Companies wishing to participate can submit proposals and required documents to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Northeastern District Project Division between the 22nd and 24th of this month. The final company will be selected through a review by an evaluation committee composed of experts.

Kim Seon-soon, Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Regional Development Headquarters, said, "We will seek to revitalize the fashion and garment industry through promotion and sales using fashion and garment businesses, one of the regional assets of the northeastern four districts, and K-POP fashion culture content with marketing power. We hope that the differentiated northeastern four districts fashion conference, involving participants and experts, will become a new marketing model for the region’s stagnant fashion and garment industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.