Spring 2026 - WINNER

California Dreamin'

What is your dream? California Dreamin’ is a collection inspired by my personal journey studying fashion design in San Francisco. It captures the free-spirited energy of 1960s and ’70s San Francisco, a time when thousands of young dreamers flocked to California in search of inspiration, freedom, and new possibilities. At the heart of this collection is a fusion of my Korean heritage with the vibrant countercultural movement of that era. I’ve incorporated traditional elements such as the bokjumeoni (Korean coin pouch), once carried by young people during the Joseon Dynasty. These pouches, with their unique shapes and vivid colors, are reimagined through bold silhouettes, experimental fabrics, and intricate knot details motifs that also inspired my print designs. An expressive color palette ties everything together, filtered through my own lens on 1960s–’70s San Francisco. This collection is a celebration of progress, individuality, and the courage to dream- no matter how far that dream may take you. Through California Dreamin’, I hope to inspire others to follow their own paths and embrace the beauty of self-expression.