Bella Kim
/Show Day
/Social Media
Born in South Korea and shaped by a life across shifting borders, Bella Kim is a New York-based designer redefining fashion through material reclamation. She synthesizes global sensibilities, weaving diverse cultural motifs into a singular, sophisticated aesthetic. By fusing historical remnants with experimental fabrication, she finds beauty within the decay. Her practice acts as a conduit between artisanal tradition and high-tech evolution, transforming neglected relics into wearable art for the contemporary.
Inspired by the Titanic, this collection fulfills the unfinished 1912 voyage to NYC. The collection utilizes 100% recycled fabrics, transforming scraps into intricate trims. Vintage clothing, discarded sails, linen tablecloths, and deadstock fabrics were repurposed then integrated into a pivotal silhouette. Through staining and crystallization, it captures "defiant beauty" within decay.
Reimagining Edwardian silhouettes for today, the collection proves that the elegance of those lost souls has finally arrived. Bella Kim envisions these garments being worn by women who, like herself, crossed borders with hope in search of a new beginning in New York. Inspired by the untold stories of women who were meant to arrive from London in 1912 but whose journeys were tragically left unfinished, her collection reimagines their resilience through fashion. As the culmination of her studies at Parsons, the collection serves as both a tribute to those lost dreams and a celebration of every woman courageous enough to begin again.
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What inspired your journey into fashion design?
Bella Kim’s practice is shaped by her experience of being born in South Korea and living across shifting borders. Now based in New York, she brings global influences into her work while exploring material reclamation, historical remnants, and experimental fabrication.
How would you describe your design style or philosophy?
Bella Kim’s work combines material reclamation with diverse cultural influences, historical remnants, and experimental fabrication. Her practice connects artisanal tradition with high-tech evolution, transforming neglected materials into contemporary wearable art.
What can people expect from your collection?
You can expect reimagined Edwardian silhouettes made entirely from recycled materials, including vintage clothing, discarded sails, linen tablecloths, and deadstock fabrics. The collection also uses techniques such as staining and crystallization to explore a sense of beauty within decay.
What inspired “Resurrected 1912: The New York Arrival”?
The collection is inspired by the Titanic and imagines the completion of its unfinished 1912 voyage to New York City. Bella Kim imagines the garments worn by women who crossed borders to New York with hope, connecting their unfinished journey with her own experience of crossing borders and beginning a new life in the city.
How does the collection transform discarded materials into new designs?
The collection uses 100% recycled fabrics and repurposes materials such as vintage clothing, discarded sails, linen tablecloths, and deadstock fabrics. Scraps are transformed into intricate trims, while staining and crystallization techniques help create the collection’s distressed and decayed material effects.