Handbok Walk
Services
- Photography
- Image Editing
What’s the story?
Hanbok Walk is a cultural project developed in London by Becky Smith, aka Hangu Khapa, and Mikey Espinosa, celebrating the beauty and heritage of the traditional Korean attire known as hanbok.
The hanbok, with its elegant lines and vibrant colors, is a centuries-old symbol of Korean identity, often worn during special occasions, festivals, and historical ceremonies. More than just clothing, it embodies values of grace, harmony, and cultural pride.
With Hanbok Walk, the creators bring this tradition into a modern, multicultural context. By blending the timeless elegance of hanbok with contemporary influences and the diverse cultural backdrop of London, the project creates a unique dialogue between tradition and modernity, heritage and innovation.
Year: 2023
Filmmaker: Ray Roberts
What’s the project?
This initiative is not only a tribute to Korean culture but also a celebration of cultural exchange, where fashion becomes a bridge between worlds, offering audiences an opportunity to experience how tradition can evolve, adapt, and inspire in today’s global society.
The photographs from this project were later showcased at the Rose Theatre and also featured in Mikey Espinosa’s art book for his Hanbokwave UK exhibition event.
Ultimately, the project poses a vital question: what does it mean to breathe freely? By confronting the constraints of body, mind, and environment, it invites the viewer to recognize their own spaces of suffocation—and to imagine the possibility of release.
This project involved content creation through a dedicated photography session, with the images later distributed across the creators’ social media platforms to enhance their digital presence and engagement. The photographs also gained further recognition by being exhibited in museums and galleries in London, where the creators showcased their projects to a wider audience.
How do we collide?
In this project, the photography and image editing were carried out, along with the creation of social media content and formats for promotion across other platforms
Who are the creators?
Hanguk Hapa and Mikey Espinosa joined forces with modern hanbok designer Sheen Seoul to showcase modern hanbok in the UK and how it can be worn stylishly for everyday wear.
All of the models were selected to represent the diverse cultures we have in the UK and to show the world that everyone can look good in Hanbok, and most importantly, that Hanbok is the national garment of Korea.
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