On view March 30 - June 28, 2026

Before the song “Gangnam Style” (2012), the blockbuster "Parasite" (2019) and the television series "Squid Game" (2021), South Korea’s global cultural influence was already taking shape. This exhibit explores the work of André Kim (1935-2010), the country’s first male fashion designer and a pioneer of international cultural exchange.

Known for his theatrical runway shows staged around the world — from Paris to the Pyramids of Giza — Kim blended avant-garde silhouettes with traditional motifs in a style he called “futuristic classicism.” His designs, worn by global icons and early K-pop stars alike, helped lay the visual foundation for what would become the Korean Wave (hallyu).

Through original garments on loan from André Kim Design Atelier (Chungdo), along with archival photographs, newspaper clippings, magazines, books and other documents, the exhibit traces Kim’s lasting impact on fashion, performance and global culture.

Hallyu (Korean Wave) before Hallyu: The Artistic Worlds of André Kim (1935-2010), South Korea’s First Male Fashion Designer, is on view at The Nest in Geisel Library from March 30 to June 28, during the building's open hours.

Organized by: UC San Diego Library and Institute of Arts and Humanities

Supported by: Jin Moon (Library) and Professor Todd Henry (History Department)

Related event: Histories and Cultures of South Korean Fashion in a Globalizing World