Promotional poster for Busan Technopark's 'Urban IP Experiment Based on Local Culture' exhibition [Busan Technopark]
Promotional poster for Busan Technopark's 'Urban IP Experiment Based on Local Culture' exhibition [Busan Technopark]

Busan Technopark announced Monday it will hold a series of exhibitions titled "Urban IP Experiment Based on Local Culture," reinterpreting Busan's regional cultural assets as fashion and lifestyle content, beginning Thursday.

The exhibitions, to be held across Mangmi-dong and Gwangan-dong in Suyeong-gu, are designed as a testing ground for developing local places, culture and ways of life into designer-brand fashion and lifestyle products — and for gauging consumer response and market potential.

The event runs in two stages: the first from Thursday through Aug. 20 at the Seokwoon Yoon Showroom in Mangmi-dong, and the second from Aug. 21 to 23 at Podium Dive in Gwangan-dong. The first exhibition takes the form of a showroom exploring the relationship between the neighborhood and the brands, while the second targets residents and tourists visiting Gwangalli with a product-focused display.

Three Busan-based designer brands are taking part: Seokwoon Yoon, Contour Song and We Are Not Bite.

Seokwoon Yoon will present a project called "MANGMI RE:FORM," centered on Mangmi-dong — the neighborhood where the brand's showroom is located. The project interprets the area's transformation from an industrial district into a cultural and arts hub through the concept of "re:form." Items on show include clothing, bags and accessories, among them a transformable tote bag that converts into a jacket.

Contour Song will express the folklore and seascapes of Cheongsapo through the brand's signature wave patterns and prints. The collection — spanning pajamas, robes, swimwear, scarves and fabric bags — presents Busan's local stories as fashion and lifestyle pieces meant to be worn and kept in everyday life.

We Are Not Bite turns its focus to the beach culture and subculture of Gwangalli. The brand combines Busan imagery — camellia blossoms and seagulls — with graphics by Busan-based artists, rendering them as street fashion: T-shirts, denim, hoodies and hats.

Busan Technopark plans to track visitor numbers, product preferences, purchase intent, on-site sales, online traffic and social media response to assess the commercial viability of fashion products rooted in local culture. Based on the exhibition results, it will also consider follow-up projects to expand Busan's local cultural assets — including those of Mangmi-dong and Gwangalli — into fashion and tourism content.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com