The Hanbok-Korean: Inspiration

There are garments that do more than clothe the body — they carry the soul of a culture.

I have long been drawn to Asian aesthetics — each culture expressing beauty in its own rhythm, its own language of line, color, and meaning.

The Korean hanbok is among my favorites — a garment that seems to hold poetry in its folds. Its design embodies the Korean ideals of harmony with nature and the quiet grace of simplicity. The interplay of straight and curved lines reflects a deep understanding of balance — not only in form, but in life itself.

There is a concept in Korean art called the “beauty of empty space.” 

In hanbok, this spaciousness allows the person wearing it to breathe, to move, to be. It’s as though the garment doesn’t seek to define you, but to reveal your essence — your inner stillness, your presence.

Hanbok has a history that stretches across centuries — evolving through dynasties, shifting silhouettes, and changing materials — yet always remaining a profound symbol of Korean identity. It carries memory, artistry, and spirit.

Mural painting from Susan-ri <수산리>

TIMELINE:

image credit: Hanbok Heros

For a time, hanbok became reserved for formal occasions. 

But today, a new generation of designers is bringing it back into daily life, blending old and new with reverence and imagination. The result is a breathtaking conversation between tradition and modernity — where silk and color whisper stories of the past while embracing the present moment.

Let’s look together at some contemporary hanboks that honor their roots.

— and others that reimagine them with boldness and heart.

What draws me most to hanbok is the sense of grace within restraint — the way simplicity holds such quiet power. It reminds me that art, like life, does not need to shout to be beautiful. There is elegance in stillness, and meaning in what is left unspoken.

In my own creative work, I strive for that same harmony — between color and calm, movement and rest, fullness and space. Hanbok feels like a reminder that beauty is not something we add, but something we reveal by allowing room for spirit to breathe.

💗May you find inspiration in simplicity and create beauty that allows your own spirit to shine through.

xoxo

Leslie

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For your enjoyment:

Video: Cheollik Dress and Shamanism Collection by Tchai Kim | V&A

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La Alegría : The Joy. Madonna of the Roses -Complete

Madonna and Meaning.

Each Madonna I create carries her own story, woven with layers of symbolism.

Pink roses embody joy, gratitude, and positivity. They remind us of the sweetness of life, of tender moments and blessings that deserve to be cherished. Yellow roses bring warmth, light, and friendship—a reminder that joy is multiplied when it is shared. Together, pink and yellow roses create a harmony of happiness, radiating a vibrant and whole life.

La Alegría is both a celebration and a devotion: a Madonna who invites us to embrace joy in its fullness, to carry gratitude in our hearts, and to remember that even in life’s shadows, the light of joy is always present.

Inspiration.

The Juan Diego cloak, or tilma, is a cactus-fiber cloak bearing the imprinted image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Studies by scientists and historians have noted characteristics like the image's unique coloration, lack of known pigments, and apparent creation without traditional artistic methods like painting or brushstrokes.

Additionally, the 400-year-old cloak itself has shown remarkable resilience, surviving conditions like nitric acid spills and bombings that should have caused its disintegration.

Displayed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

The Gown.

The Rose is divine love, beauty, grace, and the mysteries of the soul.

They are thought to radiate pure energy and a connection to the Divine.

The unfolding petals can symbolize a new stage of wisdom or understanding.

Opening to the underskirt of vintage lace from a wedding dress. This lace is so beautiful and holds roses in its design.

Opening to the Roses of Joy layout of pink and yellow.

Black and white are scattered within to symbolize.

Back view of roses that surround her.

Details.

Each Madonna has a "Corazón". The Spanish translation is Heart, but it can also refer to the center of our courage.

Open palms to receive. That is the balance of life to give and to receive.

Close-up of Rose fabric collage. Each rose was either created from a fabric print or digitally designed in a photo program and printed onto fabric. All are appliques fused and then topstitched.

Close-up of the lace with silk satin ribbons that were hand-woven into the lace.

View of interior with stitching.

Left side of her gown.
Each rose is deliberately placed to give the gown its flow.

Right side of her gown. Balanced to the left side.

Back view of the stitching rising to peaks.

This gives us the understanding that we, too, can rise.

The interior rose. We all hold a Rose of joy, gratitude, and positivity within.

Silk shoes. Delicate.

It is her footprints that walk the Earth to bring Joy to all.

Wooden Halo to crown her head.

Particulars:

Clay, Silk, Cotton, Wood, Metal.

Wall piece

30" tall, 15" wide at skirt base.

Research of Interest. 

Juan Diego's cloak was made of corn husks. What would be a fabric of today that could emulate that? Linen! I found this vintage linen that has a gold thread running through it. I dyed the fabric and then created the bodies of this magnificent piece. By the way, I purchased everything the shop had. They will truly be one of a kind, starting with their bodies!

Questions?? Contact: Leslie