Ireneisgood

The word cool is an understatement when defining Ireneisgood’s creative director Irene Kim. Somehow her overabundance use of pink and glitter doesn’t dilute the edge that this girl and her brand fully embody. Her buoyant use of hashtags like #goodforyou and #dontgetgoodtwisted are all derived from a foundation of mantras conveying the importance of spreading love and empowering people by embracing one’s individuality. Fabricated in Seoul, South Korea in 2017, the brand Ireneisgood is full of 인싸템 , aka items for cool kids, with colorful and bold street styles. The brand is aimed towards inclusivity, which carries with it a breath of fresh air into the luxury fashion industry’s recent trend of exclusivity. Her debut in Paris for her SS20 collection featured an array of glittered accessories, a signature lilac crystal-studded jumpsuit, multi-colored high heels, jewelry and a series of new mini bags, all exhibiting a touch of femininity with an edgy twist. 

Her motto ‘Good vibes, good clothes, all good’ is just one of the many reasons why we’ve added her on our radar for this year’s designers-on-the-rise.

To start, tell us a little bit about why you decided to start your own brand in the first place?

I decided to start my brand in the beginning because I wanted to express myself through another outlet, and having already worked as a model and an influencer, it really came naturally because I was already creating content. The brand to me is just another extension of my creativity. 

What is the design ethos of Ireneisgood? 

The design ethos of Ireneisgood is good vibes, good energy, lots of pops of color and twisted colored classics. It’s something that every girl can have a piece of. 

How do you describe your new collection ? 

I would describe my collection as something that puts you good mood because it’s so colorful and fun. And it’s easy! I’m all about color and comfort, and those are kind of elements that are in the pieces. 

What makes you most excited when you create this collection? 

Everything! I was so excited to start something really new, from nothing. I let my imagination run wild and kind of dreamed up what my first collection would be. I’m very happy with it. 

We loved how your first showroom in Paris reflected your childhood dream closet, shades of pink and loads of glittered accessories. What should we expect in the future for your collections?

I think fashion is very much an emotion and it’s something ‘of a feeling’. So definitely something that is always very positive and colorful because that’s the DNA of the label. We have the symbol of the unicorn which you see throughout the collection. Hopefully we will continue to expand the categories and elevate the pieces in a very organic way. 

Being in the luxury fashion industry, why did you decide to focus on ‘inclusivity’ when most brands are pushing ‘exclusivity’?

Inclusivity to me is very important also in my life, not just in fashion. I think that my image is very approachable. I’ve just always been the girl that loved fashion and was passionate about it. All the fancy fashion shows and events came after, so the inclusivity is just a message of saying that anyone can do what they love and follow their dreams. If they work hard, things happen. I’m living my dream!

What was it like growing up in a city like Seattle and then moving to Seoul? Did you experience any culture shock?

I grew up in a very normal suburban neighborhood with a lot of American friends. I thought I was white cause I had zero Asian friends. Then I moved to Korea and it was a big culture shock for me. I didn’t really know Korean, and I had to adjust to the Korean culture. I adjusted pretty well, and now that I really think about it I’m very happy that my parents moved back to Korea because I got to really go back to my roots. 

And speaking of the two, USA and South Korea, how do the two cultures influence your brand? For example, the quote ‘You good, I’m good’ is very American. 

The two cultures of being in the US and Korea definitely influenced my brand but I wouldn’t say specifically because fashion has become so global and is something that I think unifies people in a way. It starts conversation. I think just being able to experience different industries of fashion throughout different cities, has definitely influenced my brand. The messages that I have or the kind of fabrics and details I am inspired by, are all definitely influenced by American culture, as well as the Asian culture.

The team behind your brand consists of a lot of individuals who also work within the K-pop industry, what are your thoughts on the famous K-pop music culture and do any of your brand’s values align with that industry?  

I think the K-pop industry is one of the best and most influential industries in the world. I look at the visuals, music, styling, production, creativity and energy that is all poured into it: it’s really an art. I’m definitely influenced by K-pop and K-beauty. A lot of trends are started through K-pop. I would love to do a K-pop collaboration one day. 

You went to school in NYC at FIT for textile design, how did that experience shape you into the designer you are today?

I don’t want to say that I am a designer, I will just say that my label is another way that I creatively direct my vision. So the background of going to fashion school definitely has made me appreciate fashion more, not just with my label, but also as a model and an influencer because I know what it takes to create a collection or a piece of clothing. I really want the best materials, stitching, and quality production. I also want to make sure that I am sustainable in some way to support the local factories around me in Korea. I think that my fashion background helps me appreciate the process of developing the collection a lot more. 

What are your thoughts on living in NYC? 

I loved living in NYC, it’s the city of dreams. For me, it was so much freedom. I moved there when I was 18/19 and it was the first time I was living alone. It was limitless. I learned my independence, met a lot of amazing people and I got to work and live in one of the best cities in the world. So it definitely shaped me into more of an independent and ambitious person, because there were so many more things I wanted to achieve when I got there. 

Did you have a favorite coffee or pizza spot near your school? Any South Korean restaurants?

Some of my favorite places in NY are mostly downtown. I love Mudspot, the East Village and Tribeca. I mean for Korean restaurants you go to K-town, for Korean food and karaoke.

We love how you experiment so much with your hair, what have been your favorite colors and styles so far?

My favorite colors throughout my unicorn hair stage would probably be the first color that I ever did, blue.I really loved also the lavender one I did. I went through all of these color stages and I think that I have all of these different memories for each one, so it’s very nostalgic for me. 

How do you define your style ?

Fun and comfortable. I love to mix and match. I love the contrast between something boyish and something feminine. 

What are 3 clothing staples you have with you at all times?

Sneakers, a nice leather jacket and I don’t know why but I always have accessories all over the place. You never know who you’re going to run into, or if you’re going to have to quickly change your outfit and I think the quickest way to elevate your look is with nice, bold earrings or jewelry. 

What are the 3 words that best describe you ?

Good, colorful and easy going. Just chill. 

What are your star signs?

I’m a scorpio, very intense. 

Who is your muse(s)?

I have so many muses. I’m very inspired by different types of women. Charlotte Gainsbourg,  Kate Moss and Rihanna. I love Rihanna. She’s one of my inspirations and muses because of everything that she stands for. She’s just such a boss and role model for me as a woman. 

Where is your favorite place to travel?

Somewhere beachy and warm with sand and water. A place where I can relax, read and listen to music. Also I love LA a lot. I love the energy and the food. I would love to live there one day. 

What’s an unforgettable thing you have done in your life ? 

This! Launch my own brand! I mean I never in a million years would’ve thought that I would’ve been able to have the opportunities that I’ve had throughout my life. Sometimes I just have to sit back and think about it because you get so busy. Like the life that I live is like you’re always on the go: you jump on a plane, you unpack, you get to the city. I am just appreciating that I get to do what I love everyday and I try to take it in as much as possible. 

What are your plans and resolutions for 2020?

Just to be happy and keep doing what I enjoy. I’d like to give off that energy and inspiration to other girls and show to people they can also do what they love. 

What inspires you the most?

The people and the relationships that I’ve built throughout my career and life. I am here today doing what I do because of the good people that have supported me and given me a push in the right direction. I think that is priceless. I love to meet people everyday and travel to different cities. The opportunities that I get are very rare, so I appreciate that.

What do you do in your free time?

I’m very boring. In my free time, I am working too. I have an amazing dog named Biggie, he’s a frenchie. I love to spend time with him as much as I can because I’m traveling so much. I also love to spend time with my friends and family. 

What is your drink of choice?

Aperol Spritz

Check out our selection of street-ready hoodies, stylish sweats to lounge in and a killer selection of colorful kicks.