UNION BLUE

A fashion brand that started in Daegu with hands that took apart and sewed worn denim. After beginning rework and repair work in 2020, they began making clothes themselves and now showcase shirts, knitwear, pants, and outerwear. Rather than focusing on the pristine appearance of new clothes, they take the time to observe whether the garments are something you want to reach for again and again after frequent wear and washing. Instead of a single flashy piece, they develop clothing that blends seamlessly into your existing wardrobe and plays its part. In 2025, they opened their first flagship store in Hapjeong, Seoul.

Q. Union Blue started in Daegu in 2020 with denim rework and repair work. What led you from fixing pre-made clothes to becoming a brand that makes clothes yourself?

By taking clothes apart and sewing them back together, I naturally learned how garments from various brands are made. Patterns and sewing methods that are difficult to discern just by looking at the finished product become visible when you deconstruct them yourself. As I encountered the making of diverse clothes and gained know-how, at some point, the thought occurred to me: "Why don't we try making the clothes we want from scratch?" Based on what I learned through rework and repair, I began planning clothes myself, which led to the current Union Blue.

Q. Back then, you must have examined countless clothes, not just new ones but also worn-out garments. How does that experience remain in Union Blue's clothes today?

While repairing clothes, I had many opportunities to examine them up close after someone had worn them for a long time. From wrinkles and fading to wear caused by friction, every garment was different. These were changes that occurred as a person wore them, not artificial marks. Observing the changes in various clothes like a collector, I came to value how they would look a few years later just as much as their original appearance. Even now, when selecting fabrics or manufacturing products, I consider how they will change after being worn and washed for a long time.

Q. You started with denim and now produce shirts, knitwear, pants, and outerwear. As your product range expands, is there a standard that unites Union Blue's clothing?

Initially, I focused on reworking and repairing Levi's denim. As I worked with pants, I began to wonder, "What kind of tops would go well with them?" This led me to start making tops and outerwear one by one. Rather than having each piece stand out too strongly, I wanted them to blend comfortably with the clothes you already own. That is why I primarily use soft colors and design silhouettes that you will reach for often in your daily life. An important criterion is that a new piece doesn't feel out of place in the closet but blends well with the clothes you already wear.

A new outfit doesn't just sit around in the closet, and

It is an important criterion that it blends well with the clothes you normally wear.

Q. When looking at Union Blue shirts, the shape is familiar, yet the differences in fabric and silhouette are noticeable. When recreating clothes that have already been made countless times, where do you put the most effort?

I spend a lot of time on fabrics and silhouettes. For familiar garments like shirts, even slight differences in weave, density, or processing methods can significantly alter the overall atmosphere. If the fabric I want isn't available on the market, I sometimes develop it myself. After matching the texture and color I envision, I check the silhouette that emerges when the garment is actually made. I believe that even with a familiar form, the garment can become distinctly different depending on the material and how it fits the body.

Q. I understand that after developing the fabric yourself, you also conduct wear tests under conditions similar to real life. What process does a single material go through to become a product?

We don't select fabrics based solely on whether we like the texture or color when we first see them. We also check how they change after actually wearing and washing them. Once material development is complete, we select a team within the company to wear the garment themselves while living under conditions similar to those of our customers. During this process, we examine changes in the fabric, the fit, and any areas of discomfort. I found that it is difficult to judge a product based only on its initial appearance.

Q. You have been operating your brand based in Daegu in an environment where the fashion industry is concentrated in Seoul. How has the environment of Daegu influenced Union Blue's product development?

As the brand grew, we increasingly developed and produced materials with desired characteristics in-house. Since Daegu has a long history of developing the textile industry, we were able to find the necessary infrastructure for fabric production and processing nearby. Being able to seek direct advice from those with extensive field experience was also a significant help. In this environment, I began to look as deeply into materials as I do into the forms of the clothes, and I started developing the fabrics I needed myself.

Q. What do you think is the most strongly reflected regional characteristic in the brand?

I believe it is the technology and production base of the textile industry that Daegu has built up over a long period of time. While we do not directly incorporate images or symbols reminiscent of Daegu into our clothing, the manufacturing process retains much of the experience gained from this region. I have closely observed the fabric production and processing sites, and whenever a need arose, I sought solutions by working with experts on-site. At Union Blue, Daegu is not an image imprinted on the clothes, but rather something that emerges in the process of making them.

At Union Blue, Daegu is not an image imprinted on clothes

It becomes apparent during the process of making clothes.

Q. You opened your first flagship store in Hapjeong in 2025. What did you want to showcase in this offline space to customers who primarily interacted with the brand online?

I wanted to create a showroom where customers can try on clothes and examine them at their own pace, rather than a store where they rush to pick them out. Online, people tend to focus on color and atmosphere first, but it is difficult to convey the texture, fabric thickness, or the silhouette created when actually worn. Therefore, I arranged the space with ample room between products so that customers can fully touch and try them on. Our staff also prioritizes helping customers fully experience the clothing rather than rushing the sale.

Q. What motivated you to participate in this <Edit Debt: Neo Local>?

Union Blue is not a brand that has expressed the regional identity of Daegu through images or symbols. Instead, as we started and grew the brand here, we met the local textile industry and producers up close. When you work in one region for a long time, you naturally get to know the people and skills, and these have influenced our products. We decided to participate in <Edit DEPT: Neo Local> because we felt we could showcase that story.

Q. Is there anything in particular you would like visitors to pay attention to when they touch and try on the clothes at this pop-up?

I hope you will take the time to examine the details that are not clearly visible in the photos. Please feel the weave and thickness of the fabric, and observe how the garment shapes your body when worn. While Union Blue often features a loose silhouette, we do not simply increase the size; instead, we meticulously adjust the balance of the shoulders, chest, and length. Up close, you can also discover details that were initially unnoticed, such as the stitching and hardware.

Q. What does 'local' mean to Union Blue today, having started in Daegu and expanded its scope of activity to Seoul?

It might be difficult to immediately associate Union Blue with Daegu just by looking at our clothes. However, here, we have closely experienced the textile industry and production sites, and whenever we needed materials, we worked together with producers to find solutions. I believe that what we experienced in a particular region and who we worked with influences a brand's standards over time. For us, Daegu is more clearly reflected in the process of selecting materials and making clothes than in the symbols directly expressed in the design.

Even as the brand grows, I don't want to miss the process of personally inspecting the materials and checking the fit.

I hope it will be a piece of clothing that I still want to wear when I take it out of the closet a few years from now .

Q. What standards do you want to maintain for a long time, even as the brand grows?

I want to continue upholding the fundamentals of clothing making. Since I started with rework and repair, I have always considered how clothes look after being worn for a long time just as important as how they look when new. I want to create clothes that look natural and that you find yourself reaching for again, even after wearing them a lot and washing them multiple times. Even as the brand grows, I do not want to lose the process of personally inspecting the materials and checking the fit. I hope that when you take them out of your closet a few years from now, they will still be clothes you want to wear.

Maker's Pick

Semi Crop Small Check Shirt

This Union Blue shirt, recommended by CEO Kim Woo-yong to both first-time customers and long-time patrons, features a small check pattern and a semi-cropped length. It offers a variation in silhouette while being comfortable enough for everyday wear. Shirts are a consistent product line for Union Blue, with meticulous attention paid to the fit and shape that vary depending on the fabric's weave, density, and processing methods. It is a garment that easily matches your usual wardrobe and is the kind you find yourself reaching for again and again. This shirt clearly demonstrates Union Blue's standards for what constitutes a good garment.

COMING SOON!

Union Blue this coming September Meet us in person at the pop-up!

September 17-30, 2026, The Hyundai Seoul B1 Event Hall

fin.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗲 UNION BLUE

Saeeum Kim

Edeit Seulgi Lee