"From Hiking Padding to Short Padding" Which Padding Will Be Popular This Winter? [Song Seung-yoon's Pa.Al.Bot]

In Cool Weather... "What Padding Should I Wear This Year?"

Outdoor-Centered 'School Uniform Padding' Trend 10 Years Ago
Premium Padding Popularity Brings Term 'Backbreaker'
Long Padding Praised for Warmth from Students to Office Workers
Short Padding Strong Since 2020... Expected to Continue This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As the weather turns cool in the mornings and evenings, the season for padding jackets is gradually returning. With the recent short autumn, the number of people seeking thick clothing has already increased significantly. Naturally, interest is also focused on the padding styles that will be trendy this winter.

Originally, the term "padding" refers to the method of quilting with filling material inside. More precise terms are "down jacket" or "padded jacket," but in Korea, it is widely used as a general term for outerwear filled with materials such as cotton or duck feathers.

Padding is one of the fashion items that particularly follows trends. As the saying goes, "fashion goes in cycles," padding trends also have their order. About ten years ago, the outdoor craze that swept middle and high school students led the padding trend. Outdoor wear, once worn mainly by "ajeosshi" (middle-aged men), transformed into everyday clothing, and outdoor looks became wildly popular among teenagers at the time. There were even brands that were trendy by region. The popularity was due to the fact that these could be worn both as school uniforms and everyday clothes, while offering excellent warmth due to their functionality. The North Face's "Nuptse Jacket," released in 1992, gained worldwide popularity and became a classic item. During this period in Korea, it was called "school uniform padding" or "muscle man padding," becoming an absolute "must-have" item.

In addition, a trend emerged where people turned to premium padding for differentiation. Beyond The North Face's Himalaya Parka, known as the "boss padding," luxury foreign brands such as Moncler and Canada Goose began to be recognized, marking the beginning of the heyday of high-priced padding. The nickname "spine breaker" for padding also originated around this time.

Starting around 2016, "long padding" dominated the scene for a while. These are long-length padding jackets that cover down to the shin, often referred to as "bench parkas" in the past. Because they cover the lower body and provide excellent warmth, and are easy to style, long padding in neutral colors like black gained tremendous popularity. The sight of everyone wearing similar black long padding jackets even led to the expression "gimbap padding." Due to their overwhelming warmth and practicality, long padding secured a steady seller position. Most brands, including SPA brands like SPAO, Uniqlo, and TopTen, outdoor brands like K2, Eider, Kolon Sports, and street brands like NERDY, competed to release long padding products.

In the 2020s, short padding has gained strength. Centered on the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), the so-called 'Y2K fashion' trend has revived the popular 'parka' style from the 1990s. Accordingly, products reinterpreting short-length padding with oversized or tight fits in a trendy way have become mainstream.

The popularity of short padding is expected to continue this winter as well. However, as this "mega trend" gradually loses momentum, products utilizing various materials and colors such as knit, corduroy, and leather are expected to flood the market, reflecting a tendency to emphasize individual personality. Lim Ji-yeon, director at Samsung Fashion Research Institute, said, "This winter, following the endemic era, outdoor activities are increasing and attitudes toward enjoying fashion are strengthening, so outerwear such as padding, coats, mustangs, and shearling jackets are expected to be diversely trendy."

In particular, products that add design elements to long padding, which previously focused only on warmth, modular down jackets that can be worn in various styles, and lightweight padding suitable for different situations are expected to gain popularity. Padding vests and lightweight padding, along with calm monotone colors and quilting detail products are also attracting attention. It is analyzed that styles reflecting various lengths and designs to meet diversified demands will be popular.

A women's wear merchandiser (MD) at Shinsegae International said, "This winter, due to concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19 and economic downturn, padding in stable and comfortable colors such as black, beige, and white is expected to be popular," adding, "Among the MZ generation who enjoy indoor cultural activities such as museums and exhibitions, lightweight padding that can be easily worn indoors and outdoors or padding vests suitable for layering will receive great response."