Look of the week: Blackpink headlines Coachella in Korean hanbok
Editor's note: 'Look of the Week' is a regular series dedicated to the most talked about outfits of the past seven days, covering the good, the bad and the ugly.
CNN
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K-pop girl group Blackpink made history on Saturday night, capping the second day of this year's Coachella music festival by becoming the first Asian act to dominate the music festival. In front of an audience of more than 125,000 people, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé reportedly paid homage to their Korean heritage by taking to the stage wearing hanbok, a traditional dress.
While the costumes were removed within seconds of opening song “Pink Venom,” revealing each member's custom black and pink Dolce & Gabbana outfits, fans around the world had already gotten the message. screenshot The moment quickly spread among Blackpink superfans, also known as Blinks. “The way they wore Korean clothes on the biggest stage in the West…really proves their status at the top of the industry,” one Blink person wrote on Twitter. “Blackpink is truly unique.”
Another person called the group a “Korean cultural delegation” on Instagram, referring not only to the hanbok but other visual cues incorporated into their performance, such as one of the stage backdrops, whose angular tiled roof evokes Korean heritage architecture.
Blackpink's popularity has grown rapidly around the world in recent years. According to Guinness World Records, they are currently the most viewed female group on Spotify and have the most viewed YouTube music channel. Last year, they were the first female K-pop group to reach number one on the UK and US album charts, and in 2020, their song “How You Like That” became YouTube's most viewed video in 24 hours. (In one scene in the music video, the group also wears modern Korean clothes designed by Kim Danha.) Their milestone over the weekend is actually a follow-up to another: In 2019, they became the first female K-Pop group Have performed at Coachella or any other American music festival.
From the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra worn by Madonna on the 1990 Blond Ambition tour to Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell's Union Jack mini dress, the right stage outfit can remain etched in the public memory forever. Especially when worn during career-defining moments. During another landmark performance at Coachella – Beyoncé's 2018 headlining performance – the singer's custom-made Balmain collegiate yellow hoodie was a nod to black culture, specifically history. A joyous tribute to black colleagues and the university.
The group's four black Korean clothes were custom-made by Korean pattern design brand OUWR and Korean traditional tailor Kumdanje. Inspired by Cheol-lik silhouettes, each garment is hand-embroidered with traditional Korean metallic patterns, including Dancheong patterns and peonies (a symbol of Korean royalty). “We are so happy and honored to be able to work together to showcase the beautiful values of Korea and hanbok,” the designers wrote in a joint Instagram post. “Blackpink showcases the beauty of Korea and wows the world.”
In Korea, hanbok is still worn on special occasions and is often seen in TV drama. Many of the country's designers also create contemporary styles that can be incorporated into everyday wear. At Seoul Fashion Week, JULYCOLUMN's Fall/Winter 2023 collection borrowed the loose silhouettes of Korean clothing to create shirts and structured jackets. Last September, South Korean brand Blue Tamburin created a 2023 spring and summer collection exclusively using traditional Korean fabrics at Milan Fashion Week, introducing the garment to Western audiences.
Whether you're a die-hard Blink fan or not, these looks mark a moment of Asian visibility, a nod to traditional craftsmanship, and a powerful example of seeing emotion through fashion—representing Korean culture and symbolically embracing its past and future.
At the end of their performance, Blackpink addressed the audience in English during their two-hour show, concluding their set in Korean: “So far, just Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé Blackpink. Thank you.”
Above: Blackpink performing shortly after taking off their hanbok during the first weekend of Coachella 2023.