S O L I D H O M M E f a s h i o n
S O L I D H O M M E f a s h i o n
Korea ’ s powerhouse menswear brands are now looking to replicate their success overseas . And no label is taking this more seriously than Solid Corporation , led by COO Caroline Kim .
Founded 30 years ago , Solid Corporation is one of Seoul ’ s most established fashion houses , made up of two men ’ s labels : Solid Homme and its cool , luxury-focussed younger brother Wooyoungmi ( founded in 2002 and now designed by co-creative directors Madame Woo and her daughter , Katie Chung ). Having shown every season in the French capital since 2003 and broken into the western market with high-end stockists such as Selfridges in London and Bon Marché in Paris , Wooyoungmi has established itself arguably as the flagship Korean men ’ s brand in Europe . Now Kim has decided it ’ s time for the label ’ s older brother to replicate this success .
And it ’ s off to a solid start . Globally , Solid Homme ’ s annual revenue has increased 70 per cent in 2016 versus 2015 , with a projected growth rate of 75 per cent for 2017 . As the new season of Solid Homme prepares to drop at Harvey Nichols in London , we talk to Kim about the opportunities and challenges presented to a Korean company here in Britain , why it ’ s taken 30 years for the brand to arrive on our shores , and the key men ’ s markets she wants to conquer next .