A Pop-Up Shop from Seoul Reveals the Current State of "Handicrafts" / A Happy Report from Korea

Hello! This is Hyejin unnie.
The best way to find out "what's hottest right now" in Korea is to check out the pop-up stores being held around the city. While it used to be rare to see events related to handicrafts and knitting, that situation completely changed last winter. Pop-up stores by Korean handicraft brands have been held one after another, and they've all been incredibly successful. Now, you can really feel that the knitting boom in Korea has gone beyond a mere trend and has become established as a new culture.

Three unique brands that are making waves in Seoul

Here are three noteworthy brands that have further heightened awareness of Seoul's knitting culture.

BERN

Bern, with its delicate, watercolor-like hand-dyed yarns adorning the space, stood out among the other yarn brands exhibiting at the pop-up shop. Their sustainable initiative, where customers could exchange leftover yarn for new yarn, also garnered attention.

The worldview of "enjoying knitting in an old English house" proposes the joy of appreciating the yarn itself as art.

BERN:@bern.shop.seoul

MUI STUDIO

Backed by 30 years of dyeing expertise, this brand boasts an overwhelming range of colors.

The modern and stylish designs brilliantly overturned the conventional notion that "knitting equals simplicity." At a pop-up store in The Hyundai Seoul, Seoul's largest department store, they collaborated with many artists and attracted attention by showcasing the infinite expressive power of yarn through techniques such as thread art and tufting.

MUI STUDIO (무이):@muy__studio

MIMI SALON

This salon embraces the philosophy that "knitting is a thread that connects people," fostering a warm and welcoming community.

The intuitive and playful designs, featuring neon-colored threads and mesh materials, have attracted many fans.

Seeing the large crowds that flock to each event, I truly feel that a new wave of handcrafted work is steadily spreading.

MIMI SALON (미미살롱)：@mimisalon_

The trend of "cooks" (코꾸) who personalize even their tools.

What's interesting about Korean knitters today is that they not only enjoy knitting their creations, but also customize their tools to reflect their own style.

Recently, inspired by the "polk" culture of decorating ballpoint pens, "kokku" (crochet decoration), where crochet hooks are decorated with clay and charms, has become extremely popular. The joy of owning a "one-of-a-kind tool" makes the time spent on handicrafts even more special.

Korean fans are thrilled by Japan's unique sensibilities.

Amidst this enthusiastic boom, Couturier held its first pop-up store at Hyundai Department Store (Cheonho branch) from April 10th to 23rd, 2026. The venue was so crowded that an open run occurred as soon as the doors opened, with customers rushing to get their hands on their desired items. Korean fans, who had longed to see and experience firsthand the world they had only been able to encounter online until now, flocked to the event as if to quench their thirst.

The following comments were heard from visitors:
"Recent trends in Korea tend to be chic and cool, but this place is bright and colorful!" "The animal designs and color sense, which are uniquely Japanese, are irresistibly cute and somehow nostalgic and warm."

The unique atmosphere of the couturier and the excitement emanating from the space itself seem to have truly resonated with the local handmade craft enthusiasts.

The sensibilities that have been carefully nurtured in Japan and the new, energetic trends of Korea resonate with each other, and knowing that this new excitement is enriching someone's life somewhere today brings a smile to my face. I hope to continue bringing you new scenes of handcrafted work!

 

 

Kim Hye-jin
김 혜진 / KIM HYE JIN
Born and raised in Ulsan, South Korea, she considers Kobe, where she attended university and worked, her second home. Currently based in South Korea, she works as a tea curator, planning content and experiences centered around tea.
"Tea and heart" - A heart that enjoys spending time with tea.

Instagram:@chayumind