Jun Suk Kang, a native of Korea and president of Portland-based outdoor apparel company Nau, shares his insider’s guide to the best shops for activewear and men’s fashion in Seoul, South Korea.
San Francisco Market
“This is one of the oldest men’s multi-brand specialty fashion stores in Seoul. Vintage decor complements the awesome collections from famous outdoor-oriented labels such as Nigel Cabourn, Engineered Garments, and Armor-Lux, as well as unique Italian fashion brands such as Lardini and PT01.”
MSK Shop
“One of my favorite stores in Seoul. They’re very fast to adopt new trends and to introduce new brands. Because of their popularity, they do lots of collaborations with fashion labels like Arc’teryx Veilance, Our Legacy, Spectator, and Paraboot exclusively for their store.”
LeVelo
“One of the premium bike shops in Seoul. It’s fun to see their unique, high-end bike collections from Moulton, Condor, Brompton, and Pashley. You can see all the accessory collections of Brooks, from saddles to messenger bags. They also carry professional bike wear and casual city riding wear from Japan.”
Sculp
“Located in the Hongdae area where most young, hip people hang around in Seoul, Sculp has stylish outdoor-focused brands like Filson, Nanamica, Isaora, Pendleton, and Arc’teryx Veilance.”
10 Corso Como
“One of the famous shops in Seoul, with the concept originating in Milan. There are many high-end fashion products but also you have a chance to see more interesting pop culture–inspired props such as clocks, speakers, stands, chairs, and even books and paintings. They also have a nice cafe with a terrace, which is an ideal place to enjoy food and wine on sunny days.”
Platoon Kunsthalle
“It’s quite a unique place in Seoul not only because of its appearance—it’s made from three huge cargo containers—but also because of its cultural inspiration. The venue can be transformed into an event space, a museum, concert hall, runway show, and even a club during the weekends. Year-round they have exhibitions on their top floors and a restaurant and bar on the first floor so you can enjoy the space at any time.”