SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster marked its 15th anniversary this month, underscoring its rise from a local label into a global fashion name as Korean brands gain traction overseas.
The company currently operates 84 stores worldwide, including in New York, London, Paris and Milan, and has staged 33 collaborations with fashion houses and artists ranging from Fendi and Moncler to Maison Margiela and Tilda Swinton, according to the company.
Gentle Monster, run by IICOMBINED, said overseas units now account for about 40 percent of its sales, highlighting growing demand for Korean-designed eyewear beyond its home market.
Founded in 2011, the brand helped reshape Korea’s eyewear market by positioning glasses as a fashion item rather than a purely functional product, and has since expanded into major retail hubs across Asia, North America and Europe.
“Over the past 15 years, we have grown into a global brand by focusing on product quality and a distinctive brand identity,” said a Gentle Monster spokesperson. “We will continue to expand into new areas beyond fashion through innovative design and differentiated customer experiences.”
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