The Linen 2017 - Haenyeo's Closet

Eunju Kim, CEO of The Linen 2017

Hello. I'm Eunju Kim, CEO of The Linen 2017.

For the past 25 years, I have been creating emotional fabric products and educational contents to help many women find employment and start their own businesses through sewing machine training. The Linen 2017, which captures the warm texture of natural linen, is a lifestyle brand that adds 'valuable use' to everyday life.

In particular, the newly launched "Female diver's closet" is a brand based on the life and culture of Gyeongbuk female divers. Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Female diver's culture symbolizes the strength and community spirit of women who have made the sea their home. We aim to grow into a local brand that is competitive in the global market by translating its values into a modern design language.

Through this APEC Corporate Pavilion, we will share Korean sensibilities and local culture with the world and propose the value of sustainable fashion and tourism. Thank you.

The Linen 2017 "Sewing Sensibility, Sewing Value"

<The Linen 2017> is a lifestyle brand that creates emotional fabric accessories based on natural linen. Based on 26 years of experience in sewing machine education, the brand supports women's employment and entrepreneurship, and expands the value of jobs and creativity through handicrafts.

Haenyeo's Closet: "Wear the sea, carry the culture"

<Haenyeo's closet> is a brand that offers a modern interpretation of the life and culture of Gyeongbuk's Haenyeo. Taking inspiration from the resilience and beauty of these women who made the sea their livelihood, it expands the silhouette of traditional female diver attire and the colors of the ocean into fabric designs, goods, and experiential programs, reinterpreting the region's story in a contemporary way.

The steadfast lives of haenyeo, who coexist with the sea every day, and the delicate beauty of nature inspire Haenyeo's Closet. Through the natural and sustainable fabric of linen, we aim to capture these extraordinary stories in clothing and everyday spaces. Linen is not just a beautiful material. It is a fabric that harmonizes with nature and grows deeper with time, much like the lives of the haenyeo who live alongside the sea. This winter, we are proud to present a collection that embodies the deep blues of the ocean and the warmth found amidst the cold air—a tribute to the resilient spirit of the haenyeo. With every piece, we invite you to experience the strength of the haenyeo and the comforting embrace of the sea. Discover the world of Haenyeo's Closet today.

The Linen 2017, a pure domestic brand is a company that provides total services such as direct fabric import, self-development of subsidiary materials, pattern design, textile design, and educational contents.

A stable educational environment
We present a space that will satisfy you, featuring the finest interior design for sewing and the highest-grade sewing machines.

Systematic sewing education
Our curriculum takes responsibility from the basics to business start-up, providing step-by-step instruction.

Premium fabrics
As a linen specialty brand, we conduct classes using the finest linen fabrics.

We create clothing and home goods based on the naturalness of natural linen. With simple designs and refined colors, our products are lifestyle items that add emotion and ease to everyday life.

Our fabric goods are lifestyle products that add a touch of home to your life. Our practical pieces, such as aprons, tableware, and bags, feature intricate stitching and clean silhouettes to create a sophisticated look for your living space.

Textile products made by combining local resources with sensible design are the core line of The Linen 2017, where design value is embedded in the fabric itself. By applying various techniques such as patterns, embroidery, and prints on top of linen's unique texture, we propose products that can be used as space objects, home decor, and merchandise.

Based on 26 years of education experience, we run sewing classes and sewing machine training linked to entrepreneurship. We support women's independence through programs that combine hobbies and skills, such as one-day classes and the "10 Minute Bag Class." We also spread local creative culture through hands-on workshops in conjunction with local tourism.

Haenyeo's closet

<Haenyeo's Closet> is a fashion and goods brand inspired by the life and culture of Gyeongbuk Haenyeo. We develop specialized products by reinterpreting local traditions and storytelling into modern designs and are looking to enter the global market.

<Haenyeo's closet> is a brand that offers a modern interpretation of the life and culture of Gyeongbuk's Haenyeo. Taking inspiration from the resilience and beauty of these women who made the sea their livelihood, it expands the silhouette of traditional female diver attire and the colors of the ocean into fabric designs, goods, and experiential programs, reinterpreting the region's story in a contemporary way.

Haenyeo Soeuni is the motif of these sentimental goods, designed to bring the story of the sea into everyday life.

This story depicts the life of a Guryongpo female diver and the preciousness of the sea, conveying the value of marine culture and life to children through the Haenyeo Soeuni.

● Period: August 1 - September 3, 2023
● Venue: Pohang Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center, 1st Floor Exhibition Hall

<The Story of Haenyeo and the Sea> is an exhibition expressing the lives of haenyeo divers and seascapes through linen, fabric, and objects. Centered on the stories of Pohang's haenyeo divers, it emotionally captures diverse scenes of the sea, including lighthouses and whales.

● Dates: August 2–29, 2024
● Venue: Exhibition Hall, 1st Floor, GURYONGPO GWAMEGI(Half-dried Guryongpo Saury) Culture Center, Pohang

<A Day in the Life of a Haenyeo> is an exhibition of craft works created by recording the daily life of Pohang haenyeo (female divers) and the sea's scenery with needle and thread on linen. It presents video and photographic materials of the Igarri haenyeo from Cheongha-myeon in 1979, capturing the local narrative where the sea, women, labor, and environment intertwine. At the opening event, actual Pohang haenyeo participated and shared their stories directly in ‘A Day in the Life of a Haenyeo: The Breath of Pohang's Sea’.

● Dates: February 13–29, 2024
● Venue: Pohang Shipyard Coffee Space

<The beautiful world of linen embroidery> showcased works where fine thread embroidery adorns the natural gift of linen fabric itself, transforming it into everyday accessories that bring beauty to daily life. The unique texture of linen combined with delicate stitching conveys a warm sensibility.