South Korea, as one of the most innovation-driven countries in Asia, sparked a fashion wave toward the end of 2025: the rise of the “Grandma Style” vest. Across social media, we’ve seen K-pop stars like BLACKPINK’s Jennie and ROSÉ, aespa’s Karina, Taeyeon from Girls' Generation and K-pop group IVE wearing it.
This “Grandma Style” vest is essentially a quilted gilet with floral patterns, commonly known as the Kimjang(or Gimjang김장) Vest—because many Korean grandmothers traditionally wore this kind of vest during Kimjang . For Koreans, seeing a Kimjang Vest naturally brings to mind their grandmothers, and it has long been associated with older generations.
At first, many people assumed this trend was simply a nostalgic revival driven by K-pop stars. But looking closer, we find that renowned designers such as Valentino Garavani and Moncler have also released their own versions of the Kimjang Vest. Other brands like ETRO, Paul Smith, and Polo Ralph Lauren have introduced new collections featuring floral prints as well. So is this just a coincidence—or are we witnessing another floral nostalgia cycle?
In reality, floral as a design element has never disappeared. Let’s take a step back and revisit its history.
Around the 1600s, Portuguese and Dutch traders brought fabric samples featuring Indian chintz back to Europe. However, it was the British and French who truly popularized floral prints in the market. At the time, most floral-patterned fabrics were used for curtains and furnishing textiles.
By the mid-18th century, floral patterns became fashionable, and people began incorporating them into clothing—especially jackets. In the 19th century, under the influence of the Arts & Crafts movement, printed cotton with floral patterns and floral embroidery on silk were both highly in vogue.
The 20th century marked an even greater expansion of floral as a cultural symbol. Politically, The Flower Power Movement used flowers to represent harmony, love, and counterculture—reshaping social norms and empowering women. In fashion, designers such as Gabrielle Chanel, Christian Dior, Lee Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten, Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana (Dolce & Gabbana), and The Versace family (led by founder Gianni Versace and later his sister Donatella Versace) all embraced floral elements to create iconic and timeless designs that became part of their brand identity.
For example, Christian Dior’s Lily of the Valley (muguet), Lee Alexander McQueen’s famous fresh flower-filled dress, and Gabrielle Chanel’s introduction of the white camellia—symbolizing purity, longevity, and timeless elegance—have all become instantly recognizable. Today, the moment we see a white camellia, we instinctively think of Chanel.
Under different designers’ interpretations, floral elements have taken on entirely new dimensions. The Versace family not only transformed Baroque aesthetics into its own signature style but also elevated floral motifs—traditionally seen as soft and delicate—into symbols of royalty, bold self-expression, and luxury.
Personally speaking, I believe Versace is the only house that can perfectly embody Baroque in the modern era—perhaps even defining what contemporary Baroque should be.
From the East, Japan’s Takashi Murakami offers a completely different perspective through his signature smiling flowers. At first glance, they appear colorful, cheerful, and playful—but a closer look reveals some flowers with tears and muted tones.
Through this contrast, Takashi Murakami conveys a deeper message: even in the face of pain and life’s struggles, we should continue to smile. Louis Vuitton has collaborated with Takashi Murakami multiple times since 2003, producing many iconic pieces—the most recent collaboration being in 2025.
Even in recent years, floral has continued to dominate across different fields. In 2023, we saw its presence everywhere—from Miley Cyrus’s hit song Flowers, to BLACKPINK Jisoo’s debut solo single 《꽃 Flower》, to Prada and Chanel’s Fall/Winter collections. All of this proves one thing: floral has always been a widely used and deeply loved design element. It also explains why, since last year, floral keeps reappearing in both K-pop fashion and major designers’ latest collections—because the use of floral never stops.
Floral has no expiration date. It is evergreen—just like these ajumma, who have loved floral designs from their youth until now. The styles may change with each era, but the essence remains the same. People may think the Kimjang Vest belongs only to an older generation, but K-pop stars clearly see it differently. Just like many designers, they understand that design elements do not have an “expiry date.” Every element is timeless.
Trends evolve, styles adapt, but no true design ever disappears because of time. That’s why I believe design should never be confined by others’ opinions or dictated by trends. Creating in your own style—expressing your own perspective as a unique designer—is what truly makes design timeless.