Vancouver Fashion Week FW26 Interview w/ Fashion Designer Bomin Kim of Bluetamburin

Bluetamburin will be showing their newest collection on the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week on Saturday, April 11th at 7 p.m.  Purchase Tix HERE!

Blue Tamburin will be showcasing their Girls' Dreams project - BLTAM Entre - on the runway on Friday, April 10th at 7:10 p.m.  Purchase Tix HERE!

Bio -

Bluetamburin is a social impact fashion brand and is also one of the first Korean brands in the fashion industry to be invited to all four major fashion weeks. The brand's philosophy is to “Support beauty in mind, reveal the beauty to the world,” as they aim to make a social impact on the fashion industry day by day. They launched at VFW 2021. Since then, Bluetamburin has showcased its unique design prowess and diverse social messages through fashion through eleven global fashion shows - receiving rave reviews from critics and the media for its elegant collections that blend Eastern and Western influences at New York, Paris, Milan, and London Fashion Weeks.

Interview -

Please share a bit about your journey to choose a career in fashion? Where did you choose to study or, if self taught, how did you gain your skills?

I started my professional career in a Japanese fashion company in 1997 after graduating from university in Korea. When I returned back to my home country, Korea, in 1998, I launched a brand of haute couture dresses and the Robe Couture brand. Since that time I have been honored to be invited to showcase my collections at Seoul Fashion Week three times in a row as well as Vancouver Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week.

What inspired you to launch your own label and why did you decide to name it Bluetamburin? What has been your highest, happiest moment since launching your line?

“What if we add a social message to fashion?”

Bluetamburin started with the question above. The team at Bluetamburin wanted to present a kind of fashion with the message of ‘Against Every Discrimination’. They wanted to infuse the fashion design with a beautiful social mind.

The word ‘Blue’ has a dual meaning of being bright and refreshing, and at the same time being gloomy and depressed. ‘Tamburin (tambourine)’ is a musical instrument that anyone can easily play and that can entertain anyone. Both meanings combined are chosen to best present what our company wants to inspire in the lines of collection. Bluetamburin ambitiously intends to be the most beautiful and vibrant brand for those who wear its clothes.

How would you describe your label? What is the aesthetic? Who is the customer you design for?

Bluetamburin will present designs for those who want a beautiful and self-presenting persona. The collection aims to attract fashion people to show themselves in a way of beautiful and cool design.

Can you share something about the new SS26 collection you'll be showing casing at Vancouver Fashion Week? What was the inspiration? What fabrics and palette did you use?

At VFW FW 26, Bluetamburin will debut its latest collection, “Commanding Elegance.” Inspired by the persona of a Military Officer, the collection reinterprets the dignity and strength of leaders who navigate uncertain times with decisive responsibility. In the world of Bluetamburin, a Military Officer represents a leader who balances authority with courage and benevolence. A Military Officer look is designed to be more than a garment, it is an emblem of life's purpose, imbuing the wearer with the honor and duty to protect what is right.

“The FW26 collection is a tribute to professionals who lead with excellence in their fields, while simultaneously serving as a stage to champion the dreams of young girls who will lead our future,” said Bomin Kim. “We hope that Bluetamburin’s vision of ‘Fashion Infused with Social Value’ resonates deeply within the global market.”

A cornerstone of Bluetamburin’s social impact mission is the “Girls’ Dreams” project. This season, the brand highlights its Global Fashion Entrepreneurship initiative, where Bomin Kim has personally mentored four teenage designers (aged 10 to 13) to foster the next generation of fashion leaders. 

Through this project, these young designers have translated their own social messages into fashion. Their collaborative work, refined under Kim’s mentorship, will be showcased to the international community. This initiative reinforces Blue Tamburin’s belief that fashion is a powerful tool for supporting dreams and expanding positive influence. The special collection, titled “BLTAM ENTRE,” will be presented on April 10th, separate from the main Blue Tamburin show. Here are the designers - 

Jane Shine - Hello, everyone! I'm Jane from Korea. Today, I want to share my vision for Quality Education, the fourth UN Sustainable Development Goals, through the language of fashion. I chose this theme because I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up in a supportive environment with so many opportunities to learn. However, I am also deeply aware that not everyone is as lucky. Many children around the world don't have access to the same education that I’m so grateful for. That’s why I wanted to use my voice.

In this design, I put the 'white-collar' style and 'blue-collar' style together. By showing these two looks side by side, I wanted to say that Quality Education is important for everyone, no matter what they do. I hope my design shows how beautiful it is when different people and styles work together in harmony.

Jia Kim - Hello, my name is Jia Kim. I chose UN Sustainable Development Goal number 14, “Life Below Water,” as the theme of my design. I chose this topic because our oceans are becoming more and more polluted by trash and plastic that people throw away, and many marine animals are being harmed.

So in my design, I wanted to express hope for a clean and healthy ocean. Through this work, I hope people can feel how precious the ocean is and become more interested in protecting it.

Eunwoo Ji - Hi, I’m Eunwoo, and I’m 11 years old. Following my debut as a model last year, I am excited to introduce myself as a fashion designer today. I chose this path because I wanted a more powerful way to share my message through my own designs

My stage today is dedicated to 'Climate Action.' Through my work, I hope to show you the reality of our changing planet and the future we need to reclaim Designing model, Eunwoo. Please enjoy the show!

Jiyoon Lee - Hello, everyone! I’m Jiyoon Lee from South Korea I’ve chosen UN SDG Number 5: Gender Equality, because I believe fashion is a powerful tool for equality. Clothes shouldn't be a cage that limits us based on gender; they should be a canvas for self-expression.

Why do we still design for 'men' or 'women' when we could just design for 'people'? Through my collection, I want to tell the world: don’t dress to fit into a category—dress to be you. Fashion is about the courage to be yourself, no matter what society says

Where can readers find your garments? How can they purchase them?

The BlueTamburin collection will be available for purchase on the official website (www.bluetamburin.com). Any contacts regarding the collaboration or sales by global fashion partners who understand BlueTamburin’s philosophy and style are welcomed through e-mail.

What's next for your brand?

For over a decade, Creative Director Bomin Kim has been a mainstay at the world’s most prestigious fashion weeks—including New York, Paris, Milan, London, and Seoul. With Vancouver Fashion Week as a springboard, BLUETAMBURIN is actively seeking global partners who resonate with its philosophy. The brand aims to expand its influence into North America and beyond by collaborating with corporations, artists, and impact investors who seek to create social value through fashion.

Throughout Vancouver Fashion Week, BLUETAMBURIN will engage with local buyers and media representatives to share its innovative social impact business model and solidify its position as a global fashion leader. 

Links -

• Website - www.bluetamburin.com
• Instagram - @bluetamburin
• Facebook - www.facebook.com/Bluetamburin-101274665308024/
• Email - info@rubicons.net / info@bluetamburin.com

Blue Tamburin - VFW SS26