Matin Kim started in 2018 as a small, independent label with one clear idea: everyday clothes shouldn't have to choose between comfort and style. Instead of buying its way into department stores, the brand built its following the modern way — through social media, where its relaxed-but-put-together looks kept getting shared and re-shared until word of mouth turned into a real following. Once major backers took notice — Hago House, part of the Daemyung Chemical Group, stepped in with investment and infrastructure — Matin Kim scaled fast, growing into a brand worth over 100 billion KRW in annual sales within just four years. What keeps people coming back is the balance: pieces feel lived-in and easy, but the logo details, silhouettes, and colorways still read as intentional, not lazy. It's the kind of label that looks effortless because a lot of thought went into making it look that way.

Closet Staples: The Pieces That Sell Out

Matin Kim's lineup revolves around a few instantly recognizable signatures. Its striped "Spell Point" logo knitwear and cardigans are the brand's calling card — cozy, collegiate, and easy to spot on the street. Stadium jackets and logo windbreakers are the go-to outerwear layer for every season. The buckle-strap shoulder bags have become a genuine street-style favorite, along with the brand's logo baseball caps and beanies, which show up everywhere from Seongsu to Hongdae. In 2024, the label also launched a more elevated sister line, KIMMATIN, built around premium fabrics and sharper tailoring for shoppers who want the same DNA at a dressier, higher price point.

Not Just Another Logo Brand: What Put It on the Map

Matin Kim's rise wasn't built around one single viral moment — it was steady momentum from social media buzz, celebrity sightings, and a string of collaborations that kept the brand culturally relevant. aespa's Ningning has appeared as the face of its recent campaigns, and the brand has partnered with names well outside typical streetwear circles, including COACH, MLB's official partner New Era, tech accessory brand CASETiFY, and even Korean airline Aero K, for which it designed a limited-edition flight crew uniform. Compared to competitors chasing a single hype item, Matin Kim's edge is consistency — it keeps its core silhouettes recognizable season after season while still feeling fresh through collabs and color updates, which is part of why it has such a loyal following among both locals and visitors.

Why Buy It in Seoul

Matin Kim's newest and most immersive flagship store just opened in Seongsu, and it's genuinely worth visiting in person — the space is built more like an experience than a shop, with hologram campaign visuals and interactive digital installations you won't find represented the same way online or overseas. New collections and collaboration drops also tend to appear in Korea first, and international visitors can claim a tax refund on purchases, which brings the price down further compared to buying resale or through overseas retailers.

Price Range

• Caps & beanies: approx. ₩40,000–50,000 (about $30–38)
• T-shirts & tops: approx. ₩30,000–60,000 (about $22–45)
• Knitwear & cardigans: approx. ₩150,000–250,000 (about $110–185)
• Jackets & outerwear: approx. ₩150,000–350,000 (about $110–260)
• Bags: approx. ₩80,000–150,000 (about $60–110)
• KIMMATIN premium line: generally higher, starting around ₩300,000 (about $220+)

Where to Buy in Seoul

Matin Kim Seongsu Flagship Store — the brand's main flagship and showroom 📍 1F, 24-33 Achasan-ro 5-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Seongsu-dong 2-ga) Naver map

Matin Kim pieces are also carried at major department store counters around the city, including Hyundai Department Store (Trade Center branch, Gangnam) and select Lotte Department Store locations, as well as online through the brand's official site and Korean fashion platforms like Musinsa and W Concept.

Website: https://matinkim.com/

Instagram: @matinkim_magazine

Photo: @matinkim_magazine