Siwone is a fashion brand created by Korean designer Siwon Kim Régnier. Siwon lives and works in Paris, France, famous city for fashion and many world-loved brands.
Siwon's designer research considers many aspects that form the basis of her style. Her designs are inspired by her Korean origins with a special focus on sustainability and the quality of her chosen fabrics. Siwon pays attention to this aspect because her designs must accompany women in their everyday lives, therefore, they must respect some very important characteristics such as practicality, fabric quality and wearability.
Clothes are women's companions in everyday life and this aspect is often underestimated. For Siwon, women need to feel good when wearing a dress, not only aesthetically but also in contact with their skin.
Siwon's style is an everyday simplicity that brightens up the day, in fact wearing a quality dress gives the wearer a pleasant feeling.
I saw her clothes on Instagram and they immediately caught my attention, because of the quality of the fabrics, the simple style and the soft colours. Some models are born from her creativity and reflect her story, her personal stylistic research that reflects her soul and sensitivity.
I wanted to interview her in order to understand how much study and effort goes into these models. Indeed, small brands produce high quality models but are little known to the public and their stories are always very interesting. From her words, you can sense how much passion and effort there is behind the creation of her models.
HR: Can you introduce yourself and tell us what your work consists?
I initially graduated in French Literature at Dongduk Women's University in Korea, but eventually decided to pursue my original dream of studying fashion, which led me to Paris. I began learning French with the most basic and essential sentence, "Je m’appelle Siwon (My name is Siwon)." As I often had to clarify that my name was "Siwon" not the more common French name "Simon" I realized, after 10 years of living in France, that I no longer needed to identify myself as either "Simon" or as "Siwon" who grew up in Korea. This realisation naturally led me to choose a name that combined the two: ‘Siwone’, which became the name of my brand.
After wandering through the glamorous fashion industry like many others, I came to understand that what I truly sought was a sense of calm, with a focus on everyday life. Moreover, as I was building the brand Siwone, I realized that if my work didn’t genuinely reflect my identity, it wouldn’t be something I could enjoy or sustain in the long term. In a way, this decision became an inevitable choice for my survival.
Since the preparation period, I’ve been working slowly, as if writing in a private diary. That’s why the theme of my debut FW collection is "Life Essayist," with the garments that reflect the journey of one's life.
HR: Is it difficult to work in the fashion industry in France?
Unlike those who gain experience in Korea, I moved to Paris at the age of twenty and start my study in fashion at ESMOD Paris, where I completed my studies in Stylisme/Modelisme. After graduating, I began working in France and have continued to do so to this day. As a result, I’m not very familiar with the fashion industry in Korea. However, I’ve often been impressed by the remarkable efficiency and speed of Dongdaemun when I order some fabrics. Now that I’m running my own brand, I find the environment for young designers in Korea fascinating, where everything from fabric sourcing to high-quality sample production can be managed seamlessly in one place.
When did you decide to become a fashion designer?
Do you know that there are always a few class mates in class who are really good at drawing? It's not about fine arts, but those who are very good at drawing cartoon characters. I used to draw quite a bit during class and when it was break time, my friends would come up to me and see what I was drawing and say ‘wow’. I loved that moments. So, I thought I’d become a comic artist. But as I learned more, I realized that storytelling and directing were completely different fields. What I really enjoyed was drawing characters and imagining their outfits, give theme universes. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer, even though I had never made a piece of clothing before. By the time I was in high school, I was attracted by runway shows and foreign magazines, especially by the designers of that time who created fantasies through their clothes on beautiful models. It was during the era of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano, so it’s understandable. Even now, I still have the habit of imagining characters and stories for each look I create.
HR: What inspires you to create your designs?
As a cinephile, certain film scenes float quietly in my mind, leaving a lasting impression and providing subtle yet powerful motivation. Especially when I watch realist films that depict the theme of life as something unique and unrepeatable, even in the midst of a repetitive daily routine, I feel inspired to create something of my own. While visually explaining concepts through a mood board is important, I often find myself starting the creative process from a resonant sentence or thought that I’ve encountered in a film or written things. Even someone's life as well.
HR: The quality of the fabrics is very important to you. Why did you choose linen?
The feeling of fabric clothing against the skin is of utmost importance. While aesthetics might take priority for garments worn only a few times at special events, the clothes I want to create are focused on everyday wear pieces that can be chosen from the wardrobe without much thought. That's why I'm very particular about fabrics. Linen, in particular, was chosen for its texture, weight, its warm rustic aesthetic and also for its sustainability.
Linen requires comparatively less water during production and it’s materials derived from natural sources, which makes it a perfect reflection of the identity I want for my brand. Naturally, it was my fabric of choice for the first creation.
When I was student, I watched the documentary The True Cost, which highlights the contradictions of fast fashion and the labor and environmental issues intertwined with the industry. It was then that I first became aware of these problems. After the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017, I noticed a significant shift in societal consciousness about the environment. The fashion industry, being highly responsive to trends and current issues, quickly followed suit. Although academic discussions about solutions within the fashion industry continue, the reality is that as a new brand, there are limited actions I can take. However, using natural fabrics and deadstock for limited production is one of the small, personal efforts I can make towards sustainability.
HR: How much has Korean influenced/influences your models?Does the choice of colours for your models have a particular meaning for you?
When it comes to aesthetics, I tend to let things flow naturally. The soft, rounded ridges of the mountains and rivers of Korea, where I lived until the age of twenty, the 3 different color of the seas of Korea I’ve seen, the rough and turquoise Bunchung pottery tea cup of Gimhae (Korean Grayish-blue-powdered Celadon), and the curved pine trees all these are part of me. I’ve also been influenced by the clarity and purity that Koreans cherish. Then, there's everything I’ve seen and fallen in love with during my ten years in France, blending seamlessly together. As a young creator, it may take some time before I can fully and fluently convey this fusion to my customers, but these are the influences I draw from.
HR: Do you have a model that you particularly like?
The first design I sketched while conceptualizing the brand was the "Simone Top." It's a piece that strongly reflects the brand’s identity, which is perhaps why it's also a best seller. I was captivated by a portrait of a Korean woman from the late Joseon period (20th century) and the traditional Korean top, jeogori. While I still have a long way to go compared to those who deeply study or authentically reinterpret modern hanbok, I believe it’s both natural and inevitable that Korean culture is reflected in pieces created by a Korean designer. I hope this cultural influence continues to be present in the pieces I create, and I remind myself to stay true to this natural and cultural source of inspiration.
An interesting point was that when I hosted pop-up stores in France or saw customers wearing the top, many tied the ribbon in different ways, which made me realize that an instructional guide might be helpful. Thanks to the suggestion of our friend Viviane, a Gen Z, I recently created a "How to Tie a Korean-Inspired Top" video with her, and it received a positive response.
HR: Where would you like your models to show?
While I enjoy creating clothes, as an independent brand, there are limits to my production speed. However, the positive reactions I received during my first-year pop-up in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, as well as at showrooms in Arles and Bordeaux, have given me the confidence to keep going. For now, I plan to focus on my e-shop and future pop-up events, with plans to participate in trade shows to connect with international clients.
HR: Can you talk about your future projects?
When I construct my collection, I try to find effective ways to blend upcycled vintage items into my pieces. I'm also considering how I can recycle the fabric scraps generated during the garment-making process to create interesting objects or practical items for everyday use. For now, I plan to take it slow and develop my own approach step by step.
The interview was made via email on October 1 and with messages on Instagram (September/October). I thank Siwone for her time.
Info and credits:
Siwone siwone official (@siwone.paris)
SIWONE Paris Official. – siwone paris
How about this article?
- Like3
- Support0
- Amazing0
- Sad0
- Curious0
- Insightful0