A Nonconforming Timetable, a Delinquent Honor Student

CEO Kang entered the Department of Japanese Language and Literature at Korea University as his interest grew in Japanese and literature, which he had studied in high school. In an impressive feat, he completed all his required major courses in just his freshman and sophomore years.
"My high school (Kyungbok High School) specialized in Japanese education, so I had a solid foundation. Plus, I loved Japanese manga at the time, and after reading ‘Slam Dunk' in the original Japanese multiple times, my Japanese skills improved quite a bit (laughs)." After his military service and return to school, he filled his junior and senior year timetables with only business courses. Unlike today, where double majoring is common, his timetables were extremely unusual for the time. Following what others did never suited him.

Surprisingly, his eye-opening moment in relation to fashion came about one day, when he felt like a “country bumpkin”. "I had entered KU, but then I realized I had only been studying and looked like a hick. As soon as I realized I didn't want to be unfashionable, I started studying fashion right away. Since Japan was ahead in men's fashion at the time, I devoured fashion magazines like ‘Men's Nonno'. My grades? They were good grades. I studied hard, but I wasn't committed to it, as I felt like more of an outsider. You could say I was a delinquent honor student... Looking back, I think I was going for that kind of vibe."

After finding employment, his exceptional Japanese skills and business sense were recognized, and he worked closely with the company's CEO as his eyes, ears, mouth and hands on a project to expand the business into Japan. "I went on countless business trips to Japan, always accompanying the CEO. I gained a sense of global business, but more than anything, I learned how to see things from a CEO’s perspective.”

The Sincerity That Persuaded TOMS Shoes, Canada Goose, and LIFE Magazine

As he was starting his own business, he sent an email out of the blue to TOMS Shoes, which was just beginning to take off in the US. "TOMS is famous for its One for One campaign, where if you buy a pair of shoes, another pair is automatically donated to the developing world. I liked their spirit of giving, and the simple yet unique designs, so I felt that this was it. I just sent the email and flew to the US."

To Kang's proposal, coming from someone who was taking just his first steps in business in Korea, TOMS surprisingly responded with a contract approval. "They were a startup as well, so rather than the size of our company, I think they saw our potential. They believed we would be a partner who could genuinely introduce the values and culture their brand pursued to the Korean market."

Having successfully brought TOMS Shoes to Korea, he went on to acquire licenses for globally iconic brands like Canada Goose and LIFE Magazine, thereby growing his presence in the fashion industry. What made these global brands choose the Kang brothers over Korean conglomerates?

"Perhaps it's because our sincerity came through – that we truly understand the brands’ values, really love them, and strive to promote them fully? We have two criteria for selecting brands. First, we look at whether a brand has authenticity, and whether it's iconic. If we determine it does, we really love, explore, and throw ourselves into promoting that brand. It's not about just finding a business that will be profitable, but an ambition to properly introduce the spirit and values the brand holds."

"To dress well,
First, examine whether you have the desire to look good.
If you have that desire, the next step is to be diligent."

The Ambition of Introducing More Class to the Fashion Market in Korea

&unipair currently features all-time bestsellers in classic men's fashion such as Britain's Drake's and J. Press. Most are brands with over 100 years of history and tradition. "We have the ambition to elevate the class and sophistication of the Korean consumer fashion market. That elevation doesn't come from expensive prices or luxury goods. We believe the market's class rises when there are brands with clear values and stories, and consumers who can appreciate those values."

As we wrapped up the interview, I asked about what many are curious about, how to dress well. "To dress well, the most important thing is to first examine whether you have the desire to look good. Look at your desires. And if you have that desire, be willing to be diligent. Fashion naturally requires studying, too. You have to be willing to deal with the hassle of buying clothes, getting alterations, making returns, and so on in order to dress well." If you have a hunger and desire for fashion, you may want to subscribe to the YouTube channel "Footage Brothers", where CEO Kang Won-sik and his younger brother CEO Kang Jae-young explain the basics of men's fashion in detail.