[News Terms] Men Also Wear Skirts with Leggings... Borderless Fashion

Men Wearing Leggings, Women Wearing Trunks
Breaking Stereotypes of Gender, Age, and Nationality Expands

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] 'Borderless' fashion is expanding into areas such as sportswear, underwear, and school uniforms. Borderless refers to a style that transcends all boundaries including gender, age, and nationality. It is fashion that distinguishes only by clothing size, regardless of male or female.

Global pop star Harry Styles caught attention in 2020 when he appeared at the UK's representative music awards, the 'Brit Awards,' wearing a lace shirt, a purple knit, and a pearl necklace. Last year, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt appeared at the premiere of the film 'Bullet Train' held in Berlin, Germany, at the end of July, wearing a linen jacket and an asymmetrical skirt designed by Hans Nicholas Mott.

In the same year, in August, domestic actor Lee Jung-jae appeared on a TV entertainment program promoting the film 'Hunt' while wearing a pearl necklace. Hwang Hee-chan, the hero of the World Cup round of 16 comeback goal, also attracted attention in March last year when he entered the Paju Training Center dressed in comfortable casual wear and wearing a pearl necklace.

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is taking photos with fans at the premiere of the movie 'Bullet Train' in late July last year. Brad Pitt attracted attention by appearing in pink clothing, a typical color of women's fashion.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The fashion items they showcased include lace, skirts, and pearl necklaces, which have long been considered exclusive to women's fashion. This is part of the 'genderless' fashion trend within borderless fashion that does not distinguish by gender. Genderless fashion is also expanding its reach into sportswear and underwear.

'Studio Tomboy,' launched in 1977 and regarded as a first-generation women's clothing brand by Shinsegae International, entered the men's clothing market for the first time in 45 years last September. In July of the same year, sports brand Nike opened 'Nike Style Hongdae' in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul. This store features a 'Gender-Fluid' concept without gender distinctions, displaying items by style rather than men's or women's categories.

Demand from male consumers for tight-fitting leggings is also increasing. According to leggings company Jeximix, sales in the men's category in the first half of last year reached 10.9 billion KRW, an 84% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Another domestic leggings company, Andar, recorded sales of 10.2 billion KRW in the men's category in the first half of last year. Additionally, the school uniform industry is breaking away from so-called gender stereotypes. School uniform company Smart Student Uniform introduced pants for female students to ensure comfort during school activities in line with the 2022 school-organized purchasing system. Furthermore, women's homewear brand Nareun broke the stereotype that women do not wear trunks by launching 'Women's Bare Skin Trunks.'