Sumptuous Fort Lee fashion show brings Korean Hanbok Day back to Bergen County

FORT LEE — Colorful silk garments imported from South Korea filled the Fort Lee Community Center as hundreds celebrated New Jersey's second annual Korean Hanbok Day.

"Hanbok" refers to traditional Korean clothing, and luxurious designs dating as far back as the first century B.C. were on display in a fashion show organized by the Korean American community and the Asian American Youth Council of Tenafly.

Over $100,000 worth of clothing was featured, from a judge’s outfit to a commoner's jacket.

The theme of the event was education, said Brian Jon, the founder of the Asian American Youth Council.Educators were part of the cultural event, which organizers hoped would spread the word about Korean culture.

Since the first Hanbok Day, held last year in Tenafly, plans have been announced for similar events in Fort Lee; Closter; Aurora, Colorado; and Mesa, Arizona.

Jon said the other hosts approached his group for help on how to host a Hanbok Day.

The hanbok can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms of Korea period, dating from the first century B.C. to the seventh century A.D., with origins in what is now northern Korea and Manchuria.

Its basic elements include the jeogori jacket, baji pants, chima skirt and po coat. The style remains unchanged in modern South Korea, with the hanbok worn for festivals, weddings and celebrations.

Mary Chao is a columnist who covers the Asian communities and real estate in North Jersey.

Email: mchao@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Hanbok Day fashion show in Fort Lee honors Korean culture