Coincidence or synchronicity? About a year ago, I planned a two-day solo adventure in Seoul as a stopover before heading to Europe. I knew very little about the city, but after having mouthwatering Korean food on a flight, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, my plans came to a halt when work came calling. Although the trip didn’t go ahead, the seed had been planted.
Fast forward to this year, November to be exact, a dinner with two friends leads us to discussing our travel bucket list. Seoul was still at the forefront of my mind. The next day, I was on one of those ‘I’m in my feels’ walks listening to Phoebe Bridgers when I received a message from my manager. RUSSH wanted to know if I would be interested going to Seoul with Canada Goose for their pop-up store opening and documenting the trip. Naturally, I responded swiftly and the rest fell into place.
Arriving in Seoul
We touch down in Seoul in the late hours of the evening and are met with a driver holding a sign that reads, "Canada Goose". Once we check into our hotel, I’m astounded by how modern and cosy the space is. I stand there for a moment taking it all in, thinking to myself: “Is this really my life?”
The next day, I wrap myself up in the ultra-warm Canada Goose Rhoda Jacket, and make my way through the Gangnam area. The city has a calm nature, and the architecture is neat and structured; every shopfront belongs in a magazine. We fill our day with a stopover to Nudake, a conceptual pastry store that takes our breath away. Then, we visit Olive Young, where we're enthralled by the vast array of Korean beauty products. I have to admit: I went a little crazy in there, but it was all worth it. As we walk back to our hotel, I can’t help but feel this comfort from the Canada Goose jacket, like a warm hug from your Mum pushing you out of the family nest.
That evening, it's time to meet other press members from the APAC region. It feels like the first day of school as we all introduce ourselves. We’re then escorted to a restaurant called 6.5, a modern fusion of Korean food, where the menu spans ingredients that don’t typically go together, but make for some seriously impactful (and delicious) flavours. An eight-course meal, wine, chatter and laughter sends me into a food coma.
Day two
The next morning, we head into town at 9:30am to get an early start. Unfortunately, nothing really opens in Seoul until around 11am so, after a short-lived walk around Seoul Forest, we park ourselves at a local café to pass time. Once it hits 11, we venture to Super Matcha which, as a matcha lover, didn’t disappoint. A modern twist on the traditional, the matcha here was creamy and the café one of the few places that offered alternative milks. After satisfying our matcha craving, we walked around the Seongsu area which brimmed with stores, galleries and cafés, before making our way back to the hotel to get ready for the evening's Snow Goose event.
The atmosphere of the Snow Goose pop-up was like nothing I've ever experienced. The evening was designed around the first seasonal capsule collection from creative director Haider Ackermann, designed under the brand’s heritage label, Snow Goose.
We arrived to a line of people outside eagerly awaiting the celebrities attending, with appearances by the likes of girl group ILLIT, Squid Game actor Ha Jun Wi, and actress and singer Krystal. Inside, the pop-up had three levels, each paying homage to a different era of Canada Goose, from the new collection to archival pieces. There were also plenty of interactive activities to keep us busy, like a photo booth and a hot chocolate station to accommodate the colder climate.
The first floor celebrated the Ackermann's debut collection. The pieces were structured with an effortlessly cool edge to them — I particularly loved the mix of block colours and neutrals that gave the designs a sophisticate edge, while also nodding to Canada Goose's rich heritage. Ackermann drew on his connection to nature as inspiration for the collection, coming up with a wardrobe designed to defy the harsh winter elements. If this is Haider just getting started, I can’t imagine what the brand has in store for us. After taking in the designs and basking in a performance by saxophonist and producer Jason Lee, we headed to a local Korean BBQ to end the night. I couldn’t help but feel so utterly grateful for the experience. I felt like a sponge soaking up every moment.
Day three
On the last day, we were left to explore the city before our flight that night. I had coincidentally met two Korean girls on my travels earlier in the year, and when I found out I was coming to Seoul, I told them immediately.
I was astounded by their hospitality. We lunched at BukchangDong Soondubu, which serves traditional cuisines made up of fish, meat, tofu soups and rice. We shared almost everything, so there were endless options, all with flavour. It felt like a true local spot, as people lined up for the lunchtime service.
We then visited the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung. The backdrop of this gallery was a palace. The mere fact the architecture had been there for hundreds of years did something to my brain chemistry. As for the artworks, they were equally impressive. The exhibition was an artistic exchange of Chinese and Korean artists, layered with history and the evolution of art styles between both places. I've always held the belief that the best way to understand a place is through art, and I left this exhibition feeling invigorated.
Four hours before our homebound flight, we slowly made our way to our hotel. But before we said goodbye, our friends took us to a dessert spot named Dang-Ok, where I ordered a matcha, of course. Within ten minutes of receiving my matcha, it was gone. You could say I was a happy girl. There I was about to say goodbye to Seoul, my heart and belly were full to the brim and, although goodbyes are bittersweet, in that moment I knew this wasn’t the end. Coincidence or synchronicity, you tell me.
