With K-pop consistently topping global music charts, it's no surprise that the music idols are now also some of the biggest social media influencers. This is also the exact reason why they are being tapped to endorse some of the biggest fashion brands worldwide. Case in point, the group NewJeans has appeared in an American Vogue photoshoot and been appointed ambassadors at Seoul Fashion Week not even a year after they debuted. This is on top of their members individually working with large fashion brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Chanel.
Similarly, many other K-pop idols are sealing high-value fashion deals from Korean and international brands. Out of these many collaborations, K-pop idols seem to rack up plenty of eyewear endorsements. Below are a few of the most iconic ones.
Lee Jong Suk for Oakley
Despite being more well-known as an actor and model, Lee Jong Suk also trained as an idol for a period of time. This versatility has made him a huge star with several big-name endorsements. One of the most notable is his deal with Oakley eyewear in 2014. Lee advertised some of the brand's existing models with the theme 'Urban Street Casual'-with pieces ranging from bold frames with colorful lenses to simple clear-cut spectacles with sleek silhouettes. These pieces include popular models like 'TwoFace', 'Crosslink', and 'Marshal.' It is also worth noting that Lee was Oakley's first South Korean ambassador, which is further proof of his stardom.
JYJ's Junsu for Nine Half
Upon venturing to do his solo activities, Junsu (also known as XIA) was handpicked by South Korean eyewear company Nine Half as their ambassador in 2014. With his endorsement, the brand hoped to "gain a greater global marketing edge" with the idol's rising popularity. Junsu modeled the brand's spring collection of 10 sunglasses, all thick-rimmed and with a mix of plain and patterned frames. Some of these included the sleek black square 'Cobain' frames, the oversized round 'Ashley' frames, and the marble-patterned 'Bella' frames. The brand's 2014 concept of 'The Seedling' was also aligned with the singer's own solo album entitled 'Flower,' which helped market their collaboration.
Got7's Jackson Wang for Ray-Ban
From movies and red carpets to everyday street style, Ray-Bans have been used as popular accessories for decades. Through their continuous production of stylish and quality sunglasses, they have produced a number of classics like their aviators and wayfarers. Aside from these, the brand is also recognized for its innovative nature, which includes unique models like inverted lenses and bio-based frames. Given the brand's inventive spirit, their partnership with Jackson Wang in 2019 is considered a match made in creative heaven. A true fashionista who's unafraid to break barriers, Wang's own collection features a fresh take on the original aviators in the form of three new color combinations. Each pair is also engraved with Wang's signature to indicate it's part of a special collection. Since then, Wang has been spotted wearing Ray-Bans onstage and in public appearances.
EXO's Kai for Gucci
In 2019, Italian luxury fashion house Gucci appointed EXO's Kai as their first South Korean ambassador. Considered one of the most exclusive haute couture brands in the world, Gucci is known for only partnering with the biggest and brightest personalities. During this partnership, the idol was onboarded to represent Gucci Eyewear alongside Chinese actress Ni Ni. In his endorsement, Kai modeled the brand's club-master sunnies, which were each designed with Gucci's trademark web motif and lettering. The next year, Gucci and Kai partnered again for the house's spring/summer campaign. This second edition featured a more playful palette with bright patterns, pearl accents, and oversized lenses while still maintaining Gucci's opulent vibe. Kai was even made part of a retro-themed short film to promote the bold feel-good collection. As a result of these successful campaigns, fans have dubbed Kai 'Gucci's Muse' and 'Human Gucci.' To date, Kai is still a frequent Gucci collaborator who's even released his own capsule collection and remains a staple at fashion shows.
BLACKPINK's Jennie for Gentle Monster
By far one of the most popular eyewear collaborations with a K-pop star, Jennie's partnership with South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster became a global hit upon initial release in 2020. After debuting this first collection with Gentle Monster entitled 'Jentle Home,' the global pop star once again teamed up with the brand to release a second campaign called 'Jentle Garden.' This second collection featured a variety of eyewear pieces inspired by the idol's childhood memories. A few of the designs are the oversized sunglasses 'Kuku', retro sunglasses 'Daisy,' slim fit sunglasses '1996', and round optical glasses 'In The Mood.' Widely considered one of K-Pop's most fashionable idols, Jennie understands the importance of accessories, which is why this newest collab also comes with embellished chains that can be used to further elevate any of the sunnies.
