Photography by Hubert Crabières Styling by Joohye Lee
PRINT ON DEMAND
Photographer Hubert Crabières has visited Seoul annually for the last ten years, after making friends from Korea at art school in France. “Over time,” he says, “Seoul has become like a second home”. The district of Eulji-ro, in the east of the city, is of particular importance to him. “You can find printers, tool and hardware stores, independent galleries, old dabangs and coffee shops,” he says. “And you’re right next to Dongdaemun and its fabric market. I feel like anything is possible there.” Eulji-ro is a neighbourhood in flux, with large-scale construction projects steadily transforming the cityscape and gradually erasing some of its smaller, more intimate streets and communities. Crabières captured this series in Eulji-ro as a tribute to “the people I love and admire in my favourite district, and to the printing industry and its practitioners – steadily fading but somehow holding on, year after year.” For this shoot, Hubert shot his friends in Eulji-ro across two days, making use of some large-scale, speedy-turnaround printing.
Hezin O is a graphic designer, with whom Hubert has been working for five years. All of her clothes are by YILEE.
Hyojoon Jo is a graphic designer and co-founder of design studio Corners, who Hubert met through Hezin, his wife. He wears a shirt by LEJE, dress worn as a skirt by KIMHĒKIM and the stylist’s own shoes.
Hubert met Silho Kim, a graphic designer, in Eulji-ro three years ago, and has been following his work ever since. He wears a jacket, top and jeans by Valentino, shoes and bag by Valentino Garavani and hat by YILEE.
Jeong Jae-wan is a graphic designer, teacher and co-director of Daegu-based publishing house Aprilsnow, and whose work has been a significant influence on Hubert’s photography. He wears a shirt by LEJE and the stylist’s own trousers and shoes.
Myoungwha Paik is an architect and a director of architecture firm IWMW, which she founded with her sister. One day, Hubert would like his photography studio designed by the firm. She wears a dress by SUN WOO and shoes by Loewe.
Minkyu Lee works in crane rental and business consulting. Hubert only met him recently, but they became fast friends. All of his clothes and accessories are by Valentino, and his shoes are by Valentino Garavani.
Left, Pauline Réaux-Naquet is Hubert’s close friend and photography model. All her clothes and accessories are by Valentino and her shoes are Valentino Garavani. Gangsan Kim is a carpenter and runs 3treeworks, a woodworking studio. Hubert hopes to decorate his photography studio with objects from the shop. He wears a top and trousers by HONGLEE and the stylist’s own shoes.
Dehyon Xo is an artist based in Yeonnam, and was the first friend Hubert ever made in Seoul. He wears a jacket and trousers by HONGLEE and the stylist’s own shoes.
Kay Jun is a design writer, lecturer and teacher, co-director of Daegu-based publishing house Aprilsnow, and Hubert’s go-to source on Korean design. She wears a dress by SUN WOO and shoes by YILEE.
Minok An is a sound artist, who Hubert met while she was studying in Belgium. All of her clothes and accessories are by Valentino, and her shoes are by Valentino Garavani.
Holding the canvas are Sunik Kim, a photographer who helped make this project possible; understitch, a YouTuber Hubert met through Dehyon; and Boram Kim, content creator at @gimchimetic, who Hubert met through Sunik this winter.