Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of fashion! The Fall 2026 Paris Fashion Week is about to showcase some incredible talent, and we're here to highlight the Asian brands that are making waves. These designers are not just creating clothes; they're telling stories and pushing boundaries. Let's dive in and explore their unique journeys!
The Rising Stars of Paris Fashion Week: A Tale of Four Brands
But here's where it gets intriguing... these founders could have chosen other paths, but fashion called their names, and we're thrilled they answered!
Bonbom: A Fusion of Anatomy and Fashion
Bon-Bom Jo, with an anatomy professor father, had a unique upbringing. Instead of fashion magazines, he grew up surrounded by medical books, studying the human body and its intricacies. This early exposure to anatomy influenced his design aesthetic, creating a unique blend of tailoring, casual wear, and experimental elements. Jo's designs are a testament to his ability to merge his scientific background with fashion, resulting in pieces that are both innovative and comfortable.
His journey took him from South Korea's mandatory military service to the prestigious London College of Fashion. An internship at Y/Project opened his eyes to the creative potential of casualwear, and just as he was about to pursue a master's degree, the pandemic struck. Jo pivoted, and his eponymous brand was born, quickly gaining recognition from retailers.
Bonbom's designs have graced the likes of Doja Cat and K-pop stars, and Jo's collaboration with Maison Mihara Yasuhiro is a testament to his talent. With China as his biggest market, Jo is now looking to expand internationally, showcasing his Fall collection at Concept Korea's Paris Fashion Week.
Démoo: Korean Avant-Garde with a Global Reach
Choon-Moo Park, a pioneer of Korean avant-garde fashion, brings her nearly 40-year-old brand, Démoo, to Paris Fashion Week for the first time. Park's designs are more than just clothing; they're an attitude, a way of being. Her garments are restrained yet deliberately structured, often in monochrome, leaving a lasting impression.
The brand's name, Démoo, reflects Park's philosophy of starting with absence. Black, at the heart of the brand, is a color that contains the most without distractions. Park refers to her work as "thinking garments," pieces that carry perspective and challenge trends.
Now managed by her son, Yoon-Mo Choi, Démoo is entering a new growth phase. Their decision to show in Paris is not just about sales but about expanding their global presence and seeing if their unique language can thrive in a different context.
Eenk: Unconventional Elegance with a Story
Hyemee Lee, founder of Eenk, wanted to create a brand that felt like a captivating story, one that lingers long after you've finished reading. Growing up in her father's printing house, Lee developed a unique understanding of creation as a form of recording, with the smell of paper and ink shaping her artistic vision.
Eenk's name is a playful twist on the double E in her English name and the word "ink." Lee's design process is an iterative journey, translating ideas into samples and following a non-linear path filled with challenges and revisions. It's a cycle of expectation and reality, refinement, and recalibration.
After working with various fashion labels, Lee decided to pursue her vision of "unconventional elegance," pushing staples beyond their comfort zones. Her goal is to create a balance between familiarity and tension, introducing just enough disruption to create energy while allowing for personal interpretation through multiwear.
Under the "Letter Project," Lee offers collections with a letter and a word, creating continuity and narrative. Eenk has grown steadily, now with a team of 40, and their first on-schedule presentation in Paris is a testament to their success.
Jiwya: Luxury with a Sustainable Twist
"Plant-based" usually refers to food, but Jiwya, an Indian luxury label, is changing that narrative. Co-founded by textile scientists Adhiraj Shinde and Aishwarya Lahariya, Jiwya combines luxury design with zero-waste production, using handloom fabrics and natural dyes from agricultural byproducts.
Their collection, titled "Lata" (Sanskrit for climbing plant or vine), reflects their environmental ethos and reverence for traditional craft. Each piece is geo-tagged to its artisan region, guaranteeing provenance and supporting regional crafts.
Lahariya, who previously co-founded the plant-based fur startup BioFluff, saw a gap in luxury fashion - a lack of fully sustainable, high-end pieces. Jiwya aims to fill that gap, and their debut fashion show on Friday promises to be a showcase of comfort, adaptability, and sustainable luxury.
And this is the part most people miss... these brands are not just about fashion; they're about storytelling, sustainability, and challenging conventions. So, what do you think? Are you ready to embrace the unique narratives these Asian brands bring to Paris Fashion Week? We can't wait to see their impact on the global fashion scene!
