Korean streetwear brand merges Western heritage with urban nightlife for latest collection
By Jesse Scott
The Wild West is having a moment in global fashion. It was no shock that Libere's founders, their fingers firmly on the pulse of the streetwear scene, decided to dedicate a collection to it. But the way in which they did so was truly visionary. Eschewing the country undertones inseparably linked with the movement (Beyoncé just won a Grammy for (checks notes) best country album) they instead embraced urban hip-hop. Libere Fall-Winter 25 is no mere "cowboy on the range." Instead it is a seductive "Wild West Midnight" that melds the brand's emblematic oversized street style with a rugged Western spirit. As the press were told, the collection is a fusion of "expansive nature and freedom" and "mysterious charm." The collection's protagonists are uninhibited but sophisticated, as comfortable in an underground New York nightclub as they are galloping around the great plains.
This season is a watershed moment for creative directors L and K, who felt greatly inspired by their first trip to America and see this season as a stepping stone to further integration with the US market. Amidst the buzzing atmosphere of their FW25 presentation they sat down with Rain for a brief interview to discuss the genesis of this collection and their hopes for the future.
JS: Where did the idea for Wild West Midnight start? You don't often see the glamour of an urban night combined with the rugged cowboy vibe.
Libere: This year we visited the US for the first time and it really inspired us. We enjoyed talking to the American people; everyone was open-minded and we got some really good feedback. As we move into the American market, a push that we will continue next season, we wanted to incorporate some Western elements into our usual streetwear. But our signature oversized silhouettes remain the same.
JS: How do you hope this collection makes people feel?
Libere: First of all, our clothes are really good quality. Everything is made in Korea. We hope our customers feel good in our clothes and want to wear the same thing again and again and again. We're about combining good quality with contemporary design.
JS: What personal interests or passions inspire you in your work?
Libere: We're mainly inspired by music, and the universes that lyrics create. Music is something that everyone can relate to. We're usually listening to hip-hop and house…music that brings us nostalgia for the youth that we all experienced.
