Leading fashion brand Songzio designer discusses ‘Lyrical Armor’ concept behind BTS’s comeback outfits

BTS performs at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21. [AP/YONHAP]

 

For BTS’s long-awaited comeback performance, Korea’s leading fashion brand Songzio researched the country’s history to provide each member with a distinct outfit.

 

The group staged a comeback show titled “BTS Comeback Live: Arirang” in front of around 80,000 fans at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Saturday. The performance was also livestreamed on Netflix and drew global attention. 

 


 

For the show, BTS wore costumes specially created by Songzio. 

 

Founded in 1993 by designer Song Zio, Songzio operates out of Seoul and Paris and runs approximately 120 stores worldwide, with a New York location currently in development. Jay Song, the founder’s son, now leads Songzio’s design.

 

“Lyrical Armor,” the concept behind the band’s outfits, takes inspiration from
hanbok (traditional Korean attire) and armor from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). 

 

“We had a lot of washed, destroyed fabrics, a lot of natural, organic fabrics, a lot of cotton and linen — all developed in Korea,” Jay Song said in an interview published by the New York Times on Saturday. 

 

BTS performs at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21. [AP/YONHAP]

 

Each BTS member’s outfit carried a different meaning. 

 

“One key word that nobody wanted for some reason was ‘warrior,’ so I changed that to ‘hero,’” Jay Song said. “RM is the hero since he’s the leader. Jin is the artist. Jimin is the poet. Suga is the architect. Jungkook is the vanguard. J-Hope and V were based on two archetypes whose names may be a bit unfamiliar. We decided to call J-Hope a ‘sorigun.’ 
Sori means sound in Korean, and the character ‘gun’ refers to men. So it’s men of sound, a mix of this musical flair with history. V is a ‘doryeong.’ There isn’t an exact word for this in Western vocabulary, but it’s a mix of the Korean words for a nobleman and a sophisticated gentleman.”

 

He also described the collaboration process and its significance for the brand.

 

BTS performs at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on March 21. [AP/YONHAP]

 

“They’ve [BTS] worn our brand several times throughout their careers, but this is the first time we conceived a collection together from the very beginning,” he said. “In the international luxury market, it’s difficult to be an independent Korean designer. So it was heartwarming, to be honest, to have these Korean icons come to a Korean brand for this historical moment.”

 

He added, “We’re in the process of discussing [their outfits for] the world tour. At the moment, we’re trying to reimagine the Korean flag as a group costume.”

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]