The Glaze and Grain Collection marks the genesis of Han Aria’s design philosophy, bridging centuries of Korean heritage with contemporary design. This debut capsule is rooted in two distinct pillars of Korean history: the depth of traditional ceramics and the simplicity of natural textiles. The ‘Glaze’ concept draws directly from the Goryeo Dynasty, where prized cobalt underglaze reflected brilliantly beneath the sheer surface of white porcelain. To capture this dimensional color, we toiled to find a two-layered shantung-dupioni construction: pairing a crisp white underlayer with a vibrant blue overlayer to recreate that historic, glass-like depth.
Shantung serves as a heavier, more structured descendant of Oksa (옥사), the traditional Korean organza born from silkworms that molted continuously during the Gojoseon era. Historically, the Queens of the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties would personally perform royal ceremonies to harvest the materials for this specific silk. By utilizing a modernized slub-textured shantung, we preserve that historical aesthetic.
The Jia Ceramic Mini Dress applies this shantung-dupioni fabric to a silhouette steeped in late-Joseon history. The voluminous blue skirt reflects the traditional nobang (노방) organza overlay, while the structured, strapless bodice pays homage to the wide chest bands Joseon women wrapped tightly beneath their jeogoris (저고리), the jacket they'd wear over the hanboks. A contrasting red tie cuts across the deep blue shantung, functioning as a reimagined otgoreum (옷고름) bow and completing a color palette that nods to classic blue-and-white Korean porcelain, and inverts a classic hanbok pairing-- a red skirt, and blue jeogori jacket.
The Garam Ceramic Tube Top captures these same historical elements. Made from the identical layered blue shantung, it mirrors the Jia’s homage to the Joseon chest band, utilizing an elegant structural fit and a subtle blue otgoreum tie as a more contemporary and casual piece.
The Dahee Linen Blend Top serves as the bridge between ‘Glaze’ and ‘Grain’. Inspired by the legendary jade-green glazes of antiquity, this piece is cut from a breathable lyocell-linen blend that marries the fluid drape of modern fibers with the textured hand-feel of traditional Korean linen and wood pulp. The two-toned green and white halter silhouette reimagines the classic jeogori neckline, accented by a descending row of delicate, contrasting otgoreum bows.
The Hana Cotton Mini Dress fully embraces the concept of ‘Grain’. Rendered in a pure white cotton and nylon blend, it channels the philosophies of the Joseon era: simplicity, thrift, and a life lived in perfect harmony with nature. The undyed fabric highlights the architectural precision of the garment, which features a sleeveless, halter-style interpretation of the jeogori collar and a modernized otgoreum. The short skirt’s sharp, intentional pleating is a direct study of traditional hanbok construction, relying on the fabric's natural memory to hold its dynamic shape, while accenting the skirt with a western style petticoat that peeks from underneath.
We also reconsidered how traditional accessories interact with modern silhouettes. While historical hanboks kept the norigae (노리개), a traditional Korean ornamental pendant, hidden beneath the folds of the skirt or in the jeogori, we wanted to bring this element to the forefront. The Jia and Hana dresses feature a dedicated, discreet loop at the waistline, specifically engineered to display custom maedeup tassels and resin pendants, allowing the wearer to seamlessly integrate heritage jewelry into the garment’s outward architecture-- or any other favorite pendants.
The Glaze and Grain Collection officially arrives early 2027. Early access and limited-edition daenggi (댕기) hair accessory gifts will be available exclusively to those on the waitlist.