Youngone and Sookmyung University Showcase Sustainable Fashion with Upcycling Project

Seoul, South Korea – Youngone Trading Holdings and Sookmyung Women’s University are set to present the results of their five-year collaborative ‘Upcycling Project’ at a fashion display held at the Culture Reserve Base in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

A Five-Year Commitment to Sustainable Fashion

The project, initiated in 2022, aims to foster a sustainable fashion ecosystem by repurposing out-of-season products from Youngone Trading Holdings. Students from Sookmyung Women’s University’s Department of Clothing are tasked with transforming these materials into innovative new designs. This initiative highlights a growing trend within the fashion industry towards circularity and reducing textile waste.

Industry-Academia Collaboration

“It is very meaningful to be able to support students’ creative challenges and experiments through the upcycling project,” stated an official from Youngone Trading Holdings. FashionBiz

Youngone’s commitment extends beyond Sookmyung Women’s University. Since 2021, the company has sponsored upcycling exhibitions through the Fashion Business Society and actively pursues collaborative projects with fashion and clothing departments at various domestic universities. This broad approach demonstrates a dedication to nurturing talent and promoting sustainable practices across the industry.

Supporting Fashion Industry Scholarship

Further solidifying its commitment to the fashion industry’s future, Youngone Group has established the ‘Korean Society of Apparel Science and Technology’s Yeongwon Young Scholar Academic Award’ in 2011. This annual award recognizes and supports promising young scholars in the field, fostering ongoing industry-academia cooperation and innovation. KoreaWho

Youngone’s Leadership in Sustainability

The initiatives led by Youngone Trading Group are spearheaded by Vice Chairwoman and CEO, Sung Rae-eun, who is driving the company’s focus on sustainability and innovation. KoreaWho She runs the company under a father-daughter management system with her father, Sung Ki-hak, Chairman of Youngone Group. KoreaWho

Youngone’s broader efforts include supporting educational opportunities for the families of its overseas employees. In January 2026, the company partnered with Sookmyung Women’s University to host an exchange student program for daughters of employees in Bangladesh and Vietnam, providing them with exposure to Korean culture and industry. Ygunu, The Worldfolio, KoreaPost

These combined efforts underscore Youngone Trading Group’s dedication to not only creating high-quality products but likewise to fostering a more sustainable and equitable future for the fashion industry and the communities it impacts.