At the latest edition of Paris Fashion Week, a new name caught the eye of fashion industry insiders amid the dizzying list of top fashion houses.



It was Rokh, based in London and led by Korean-American designer Hwang Rok. Before launching his label in 2016, the 34-year-old designer had worked at high-end fashion houses, such as Celine, Chloe and Louis Vuitton.





Rokh



Though the Rokh label pursues the reinterpretation of classic garments through deconstruction and reconstruction, its collections are more about classic cuts, fabrics and the fit.



“My motive is always the same when it comes to Rokh creations. The Rokh atelier always continues with the study of creations regardless of the season or collection,” Hwang said in an email interview with The Korea Herald.



Hwang Rok (Courtesy of the designer)



“The main interest is always creating something interesting but desirable, (for example) working closely with the form of the body and understanding the drape and movements, trying to capture the perfect moment during the endless fittings and studies,” he said.



Hwang’s impressive CV grabs attention, as Chloe and Louis Vuitton are not just everyday brands.



“Professionalism and respecting the work ethic is one of the key things I have learned from the past -- understanding the organization and working in a team to drive a creative journey as well as many other multiple challenges,” Hwang said.



The sophisticated feminine features of the Celine label during the Phoebe Philo years are noticeable in Hwang’s creations, such as Philo’s graceful understanding of women’s silhouette and the clever fluidity of garments.



Following Philo’s practice, Hwang’s team of 10 women try on everything they create, studying the movements and thinking about how they would style them. After in-depth discussions with his team, the designer modifies his creations.



But there is more to the Rokh atelier than the head designer’s experience; it won the LVMH Special Prize in 2018. What makes Rokh special? Perhaps it is the clever mix of classics and innovation.



Rokh’s signature pieces are a series of silk-lined gabardine trench coats with transformed silhouettes. While the silhouette may be new with a deconstructive approach, the trench coat itself is a classic piece.





Rokh