Young Koreans go after affordable, trendy designer bags

Consumers visit the FENNEC pop-up store at a Lotte Department Store. [Photo provided by Lotte Department Store]

Designer bags are gaining traction among young consumers in South Korea as they offer a personalized style based on unique design at more affordable prices.

Lotte Department Store Co. said Thursday that sales of designer bags at its outlets increased up to 40 percent in the first five months of this year while those of entire handbags jumped 10 percent.

The growing popularity of designer bags among the young consumer group comes as they come in diverse designs, high quality, and relatively low prices. They are also viral on social media, which is enjoyed by many young people.

Some of the popular designer brands are Joy Gryson, a U.S. brand that gained attention for appearing in local dramas, “The World of Couples” and “Our Beloved Summer”, vunque, a brand launched by designer Seok Jeong-hye, SAMO ONDOH, and DeMAKER.

Vunque is known for its signature design that symbolizes a razor and SAMO ONDOH offers vivid colors.

Lotte Department Store is introducing a diverse range of designer brand products by opening pop-up stores.

The retailer opened a pop-up store dedicated to SAMO ONDOH bags on the second floor of Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, southern Seoul, until May, and it gained much attention from consumers that are conscious of the environment. SAMO ONDOH bags offer vegan leather.

Consumers also lined up to visit the pop-up store displaying items of leather accessories brand FENNEC at the main branch in Busan between June 9 and 22.

Lotte Department Store will open a DeMAKER pop-up store at Young Plaza in central Seoul on August 30 and 31. DeMAKER, which is gaining popularity through online select shops such as W Concept and 29CM, features minimalist designs using high-quality cowhide leather.

The brand has a showroom in Songpa District in southern Seoul but it is the first time that it is opening an offline pop-up store.

“The local handbag market has been slow in recent years, but emerging designer brands are gaining much attention as they go viral on social media,” said Cho Ye-kyung, chief buyer of handbags at Lotte Department Store.