The South Korean Designer Will Present A Site-Specific Project Exploring Material Transformation And Time
Pitti Uomo 110 continues to expand its special events program with the addition of JiyongKim, the South Korean label founded by designer Jiyong Kim, who will participate as a Special Guest at the upcoming Florence edition. JiyongKim joins Simone Rocha and Kei Ninomiya as this seasons guest designers.
The brand will present a project conceived specifically for Pitti Uomo and staged at the Fortezza da Basso, supported by Fondazione Pitti Discovery and the Korea Creative Content Agency. The presentation will showcase JiyongKim’s experimental approach to menswear, combining organic silhouettes with material innovation.
Central to the designer’s practice is the “Sun-Bleach” technique, a process that uses natural light to transform fabrics and vintage garments into one-of-a-kind pieces. The method reflects a broader philosophy that merges sustainability with a sculptural sensitivity, positioning time and environmental exposure as active elements in the design process.
“Participating as a Special Guest at Pitti Uomo in June represents both an honor and a meaningful moment,” said Jiyong Kim. “For JiyongKim, clothing is not a fixed entity, but evolves over time and through exposure. Our ‘Sun-Bleach’ process allows natural forces to shape each garment, leaving unique and unrepeatable marks.”
The invitation underscores Pitti Uomo’s ongoing focus on emerging voices and experimental practices within menswear.
“It felt important to bring to Pitti Uomo his fresh approach to the second life of materials, in dialogue with the constant passage of time,” said Francesca Tacconi, Special Events Coordinator at Pitti Immagine. “Jiyong Kim’s work represents a slow, artistic fashion ideology that elevates the authenticity of lived experience and transforms it into beauty.”