One thing that always stays pressed into my mind when I leave Seoul is that there are some really passionate people about. No matter what they are into, no matter how obscure or underground it may be, I see people embracing things to the n’th degree. I respect that. I respect people who explore things with an obsessive attention to detail.
Vintage isn’t so popular in Seoul, but there are some really nice stores that keep to that passionate spirit. Storage & Co., in the super fun and pretty trendy area of Hongdae, is run by a bunch of really well dressed folks who know their stuff when it comes to 40s watches and military jackets. I met two wonderfully dressed gentlemen who had kind, gentle spirits that gave warmth to their clean cut looks. Lee Jeong Taek, the store’s manager, and his pocket-watch enthusiast pal Lee Jong Myung took me on a tour of the well equipped store. We sorted through neatly folded drawers of ivy sweats, heavy weight varsity jackets, filson bags, and some really nicely constructed Korean made replica-wear. These local replica brands caught my eye because of details like good looking overlocked edges on waffle shirts, and heavy wearing fabrics. They also showed me an impressive cabinet of antique mens glasses and watches which were in really pristine condition and ranged in age from round about the 30s to 50s. Not to mention, a drool-worthy range of vintage and new leather work boots (I had my eye on a beautifully worn pair of Lone Wolf’s that were about double the size of my feet, dang it!)
Such friendly encounters are what make the store experience that much more memorable to me. Sharing laughs and bonding over workwear with a couple of enthusiastic buddies is worth it’s weight in gold… I’ll take it over shopping online any day. ‘The digger’s motto.
