All about Hanbok, Korea’s Traditional Costume
If you have already been to Korea, then you must have already seen some locals donning very colorful and visually appealing costumes. Chances are you might have already observed the hanbok tradition in action.
Hanbok is Korea’s traditional outfit and is often worn to celebrate special moments such as birthday parties, festivals and anniversaries. For instance, children celebrate their first birthdays wearing hanbok. Couples who get married also wear one, and also those who just turned 60. Even those who attend funerals to pay tribute to their loved ones who passed away also wear hanbok. Hanbok is indeed a big part of Koreans’ biggest life milestones. But did you know that back in the day, hanbok is actually worn daily? This explains why in some Korean provinces and villages, hanbok is even worn as a casual wear.
Traditional Koreans are usually seen wearing white hanbok or those with lighter tones. This explains why many people refer to Koreans as “people in white”. However, modern versions of hanbok can now be seen in various colors. In fact, the variety of colors that is present on a hanbok somehow symbolizes one’s social status. Usually, the brighter and more colorful hanbok is, the richer the person who is wearing it is. Now you can see more ultra-chic types of hanbok in the global fashion scene.
Koreans always have a strong connection with nature, so this explains why a lot of their traditional clothing are made out of natural materials such as silk and cotton. Designers of hanbok often favored curvy lines rather than straight ones on hanbok so that the body’s line will be more graciously emphasized. This is the reason why so many people are saying that hanbok looks so much better when it is worn by someone than when it is just left on a hanger.
What are your impressions of hanbok? Don’t hesitate to post some of your thoughts on the comments section below.
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