Lotte Duty Free, a prominent South Korean duty-free retailer, recently participated in the renowned business-to-business fashion event, Coterie New York. The event, held from February 22-24, served as a platform for Lotte Duty Free to showcase Korean domestic fashion brands to an international audience.
During the exhibition period, the retailer successfully facilitated the signing of 50 export contracts for various K-fashion brands, marking a significant milestone in promoting Korean fashion on a global scale.
At Coterie New York, the 'Hi Seoul' showroom, supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, provided a stage for several K-fashion labels to exhibit their collections. With over 1,000 booths featuring women's fashion from around the world, the event attracted fashion distributors and retail buyers from North America, Asia, and Europe.
Notable U.S. retail buyers such as Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Kith, and Saks Fifth Avenue were among the attendees, underscoring the growing interest in Korean fashion within the international market.
Lotte Duty Free's CEO, Kim Joo-nam, emphasized the company's commitment to promoting Korean fashion brands abroad. The retailer plans to leverage its presence at Coterie as a springboard to other trade shows and exhibitions to further raise awareness of K-fashion globally.
In addition to participating in fashion fairs, Lotte Duty Free aims to explore showrooms and pop-up events to expand the reach of Korean fashion brands. By utilizing its strong product sourcing capabilities and distribution network, the retailer seeks to establish sustainable sales channels for emerging K-fashion labels.
With a strategic focus on supporting government export initiatives and enhancing national pride, Lotte Duty Free is dedicated to propelling Korean fashion into the international spotlight. The company's efforts align with the broader trend of K-fashion gaining prominence alongside K-pop and K-drama on the global stage.
Looking ahead, Lotte Duty Free plans to engage overseas buyers through its network of 14 branches across six countries, including Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam. By combining online and offline marketing channels, the retailer aims to elevate the visibility of Korean fashion brands and foster collaborations with global partners.
As part of its internationalization strategy, Lotte Duty Free has been actively collaborating with the Seoul metropolitan government to identify and promote promising K-brands for overseas expansion. The retailer's initiatives, such as the 'Seoul Fashion Week' hall in Tokyo and the establishment of LDF House in Seoul, underscore its commitment to showcasing the diversity and creativity of Korean fashion.
With a focus on accelerating its international growth, Lotte Duty Free's new-growth division continues to drive the company's ambitions of becoming a leading global travel retailer. By creating innovative retail experiences and forging partnerships with renowned brands, Lotte Duty Free is poised to shape the future of K-fashion on the global stage.
