Shopping in Seoul?offers a lesson in the diversity and complexity of the Korean culture that straddles traditional values and beliefs?with modern commercialism and practices. There’s the low hanging, plastic tarp ceilings of the traditional street markets, where the smell of food being sold along narrow aisles wafts as you walk and old?shops line the corridors selling random products or fresh produce like fish and fruit. There’s the cobble-stone, modern walkways of other ‘markets’ where name brand shops have staked their claim and the only interruption to the flow of the crowds walking is the centre lane of food stalls. And then there are the shopping centres and popular districts, like Gangnam, where designer brands aren’t just a luxury, they are a necessity.
Shopping In Seoul A?Draw For Tourism
Seoul is essentially a large playground for shoppers and tourists alike, looking for anything from designer brands to underground (literally, underground at almost every subway station) bargain shops. Tourism is booming here, and much of it revolves around the accessibility to products and brands people in neighbouring countries, just have to have. In fact, South Korea is now the top destination for Chinese tourists, now the largest body of tourists world-wide, who are drawn here for the luxury items they can find.
One such luxury item is the brand of sunglasses, Gentle Monster. This South Korean sunglasses company is a pride of the country and has taken the fashion industry by storm in just three years, breaking onto the European fashion scene and making its way to shield the eyes of celebrities world-wide. In fact, it was a K-Drama actress that made this brand so notable when she chose to wear several of their sunglasses onscreen. Immediately fans of this popular show in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Singapore hurried to make Gentle Monster sunglasses a part of their own fashion statement.
Gentle Monster Blends Art with Commercialism
We’ll be honest, we hadn’t heard of this brand but as we walked through the trendy, hipster-esque streets of Garosu-gil, we were told by our friend, and impromptu-guide, of their popularity and some of the unique aspects of the company – like their business model of “innovative experiment” and their attention to their showrooms and displays. It should also be noted that their prices are considered more ‘reasonable’ by some as you can find a pair of these trendy, vintage-inspired modern shades for as low as 200,000 won ($170 USD). Not what we would consider cheap, but what most who are looking for designer brands would call affordable.
While in Seoul, you may look to find a tourist-worthy destination like an art gallery or museum and you may also look to do some shopping. At the showrooms for Gentle Monster, you can do both. We stopped by the Sinsa-dong location and got much more than we expected when we were told we’d be visiting the showroom for a brand of designer sunglasses!
If you’re in Seoul, a visit to one, or more, of these showrooms is a unique experience offering you a journey into the contemporary art scene of Korea and also letting you participate in one of the favourite activities of tourists to Seoul – shopping! Don’t forget to climb to the top-floor-turned-cafe for some refreshments.
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If you’re not into any of the sunglasses above check out more?Gentle Monster Sunglasses
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If you’re not into any of the sunglasses above check out more?
Gentle Monster Showroom – Home & Recovery
If you can make it to one of the showrooms in Seoul, we highly recommend it though we haven’t decided if it should be considered more than an art gallery or more than a designer store. If Seoul isn’t on your list of next travel destinations, we’ve got you covered with this?photo tour?of?the Sinsa-dong location. The theme is “Home and Recovery” and throughout you’ll see an?amazing blend of the artistic with the?commercial in the designs of both their showrooms and their sunglasses.
An interesting looking front entrance did nothing to foretell?what we would find inside!
Are these what you think they are? Yup! But let’s take a closer look…just in case.
We were a little surprised by the first display of hanging IV bags/lights. Though once we realized the theme of the showroom was ‘Home & Recovery’, things started to make a little more sense!
While there’s an explanation of the inspiration for the displays, like any artwork, it leaves everything up for LOTS of interpretation.
The First Floor: A ‘Gentle’ Introduction
The Second Floor:?Sleeping in Style
A bedroom for sunglasses?
The second floor also had a ‘bright room’ that was so bright, it just wouldn’t photograph, a room of cupboards filled with sunglasses, and a small curtained off area showing a very artistic silent film.
The Third Floor & Fourth Floors: From Vanity Room to Bathroom
The white made quite a stunning background and display for the various styles of sunglasses and frames.
This was one of our favourite displays. There was just something about the vanity table and the perfectly suited glasses.
What’s a house without a whiskey room? The sunglasses probably come in handy for the morning after!
Couldn’t resist trying on at least one pair!!
Shop For Gentle Monster Now! Don’t Miss These Great Deals!
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That’s indeed an awesome showroom! Thanks for sharing these great photos!
We thought it was something incredibly unique!
Interesting art. I LOVE everything about it. This is the type of place I would visit . There’s a similar district in HK, star street… most of the stores are artsy and lots of the archi stores are interesting.
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It really makes a place stand out! We’ll have to put Star street on our list when we visit Hong Kong (along with all the dim sum we can eat!)
Shopping in Korea is such a surreal experience! I didn’t visit Gentle Monster while we were there, but now I’m wishing we did. This is bizarre in the most awesome way – I love it! And it’s all for selling sunglasses?!? haha I love Korea and all it’s quirkiness!
megsy recently posted…Prague Travel Tips: Food Fun Adventure in Prague
I would love to go shopping in Seoul but I’m sure I would come home way too laden down with the fabulous skin care, makeup and gorgeous accessories.
Toni | 2 Aussie Travellers recently posted…Detour and explore at Coomba Falls
you couldn’t be more right lol! but you would find some great stuff.
WOW. What a cool concept. Those sunglasses look amazing!!
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It was a great way to showcase the sunglasses and get people to notice!
Korea is hot property on the fashion scene. A friend who is a fashion designer says that getting a ticket to one of their fashion shows would blow your mind. Your article on Gentle Monster has proven that she is totally correct. How avant garde. I need to see this for myself and wouldn’t I just love a pair of the sunnies.
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That IV bag lamp is the coolest. A bit morbid maybe but super cool. :-)
TammyOnTheMove recently posted…Getting away from Accra’s hustle and bustle in Aburi
wow, this is an interesting store for sunglasses! A smart way to attract customers! I absolutely looooove Korean style! I just love their fashion – shoes, sunglasses, clothes, etc. I went to Seoul recently earlier this summer, and I haven’t heard of this place. It would be so cool to check it out :) I was tempted to buy legit sunglasses, but I was on budget. I almost bought the cheaper quality on the street for 10,000 won but forgot about it :( They’re all super cute though!
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this before and it is a very unique way to showcase the product. It seems as though it takes buying sunglasses from a shopping trip to a truly unique customer experience
Julie @ Girl on the Move recently posted…Cupcakes in Chicago
That’s exactly what we thought! With the competition being so high, it’s a great way to give the customer a little more and leave an impact!
Wow this is definitely a unique approach to a showroom! Love it! I would definitely head in to check it out just for the displays, though really $170 USD isn’t that expensive for a designer brand of sunglasses, it’s fairly affordable if that’s what you’re in the market for. Thanks for the highlight, I had no idea that Seoul was one of the world’s upcoming shopping scenes, I’ll be sure to add it to my list!
Meg Jerrard recently posted…Tips For First Time International Volunteers – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
We were surprised as well – especially as neither of us are really shoppers. Quite an interesting approach for sure!
Wow! This place is crazy… It must have been like stepping into a parallel universe! The sunglasses are awesome as well… it did make me a little sad that I have one of those faces that suits only ONE shape of sunglasses and one type only. I look ridiculous in anything else. As much as I love those round ones! Really interest post guys, great photos also! Love weird and wonderful discoveries like this :).
Gabby
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I (Carolann) had to answer this one myself as I know EXACTLY what you mean about only one style of sunglasses suiting you! I have such a hard time because there’s literally one size and shape of glasses that works for my face (and that’s not just me saying that)! :) At least it’s fun to look!
As if thats even a show room! Insane. I would love to go to Seoul and I am not going to lie…I feel like I would just get A LITTLE caught up in the shopping scene.
It’s very easy to do and neither of us are shoppers! There are just THINGS everywhere to buy!
I love this! What an incredibly cool showroom. I’m a sucker for great design and packaging – I would have definitely walked out of there with a pair of sunglasses or two!
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Wow, those IV lanterns are pretty out there but super cool! I love the theme of this store and the products they sell. I could see spending a lot of time in there when we get to Seoul. I think we’ll hit the street markets as well!
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Tons of street markets and things to see at each one! This store (or it’s other locations) would definitely be worth a stop if you can! It’s in a pretty popular area with lots to see and explore while you’re there!
Seoul is a city that definitely interests me, but I can’t say that the vibe you’re showing us at Home & Recovery appeals to me at all. I’m sure I’d find another place that would be more my style, as I’ve heard the shopping options are endless!
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There are an ABUNDANCE of places to shop. It’s absolutely packed with stores of all types! This one was definitely art-gallery-meets-showroom and totally meant to standout as, with the millions of shopping options, you’ve got to be unique to grab shoppers’ attention!
I adore marketing to yes I would be swayed by clever placement. I appreciate window designs etc that have had some thought into them but this takes the biscuit – it is a work of art itself! I am however, the type of person just to go for a look and then actually go shopping in a thrift shop! Such a cheapass. Great post again, I am loving the tales from Asia!
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Well, you have to get an idea of what you like and if you’ve got a cheaper option, why not!? This is a great place to do that kind of window shopping ;)
This would definitely influence me- the mix of art and product is incredibly interesting, and I’d love to wander around a store like this!
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We had a great time looking at the displays and taking photos – there were a lot of hidden pieces and we almost forgot about the sunglasses altogether!
The IV lights were pretty cool! I’m not a huge shopper, but this is a pretty cool place!
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We’re not huge shoppers either but this was something we thought was worth checking out!
Wow!
That place looks like something between an art gallery and a chic cocktail bar!
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Cocktail bar! They have a coffee shop on the top floor but a cocktail bar would be perfect for that space!
Wow! All this for sunglasses? Of course, I would probably be influenced somewhat by all the hype. But mostly I would just enjoy taking photos of the exhibits, like you did. I wouldn’t be very likely to buy the sunglasses! (I loved the stack of old chairs!)
Jeez, that’s one of the most unique looking showrooms I’ve ever seen. I’m often told Koreans are pretty on point with their fashion. I can see some proof of that in this post.
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Wow! I had to read this post twice…it seems surreal that this is just a store! Love the white things on a white wall – how very cool! Love this post – so unique!
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I absolutely love Seoul! I love seeing their culture as well as their clothing styles. They do have unique art but I actually had no idea that they had the showroom. I was more focused on street food. If I ever go back, I will definitely keep in mind to check out the showroom as well as other stores.
We would have completely missed it had we not been shown to go! It’s not something you would expect and you’re right, the street food are a big focus for us as well! :)
That is so elaborate for just sunglasses … love this aspect of Korean society!
So elaborate! But with all the shops and competition, a great way to get notice and to make a name!
This is awesome!! I just became a huge GM fan last year and recently reviewed 4 pairs of their sunglasses on my own blog Cubicle Chic. I also referenced this post, I hope you don’t mind! It’s very informative and definitely lets you know Gentle Monster even better!
Jessica || Cubicle Chic
Absolutely don’t mind you referencing this post! thank you so much :)