The Blackpink Effect: How K-pop's biggest girl group took luxury fashion by storm
In the early hours of Friday morning, a phenomenon will break out on the internet. Blackpink, the biggest girl group in the world and the most successful girl group in K-pop history, will release their first new single in nearly two years.
"Pink Venom", as the song is titled, has already caused quite a stir before its release. Last week, teaser images and videos circulating on social media crossed millions of eyeballs and inspired frenzy among their fans, a global audience that – judging by the group's Instagram following alone – is bigger than the population of a medium-sized European country. "Pink Venom" is part of the upcoming album, "Born Pink", which is due out mid-September and will be accompanied by a world tour.
What Blackpink did better than any girl group before using fashion as a tool to position its members as larger-than-life idols – more sleek, composed and beautiful than mere humans. But in carefully edited videos and behind-the-scenes reports released by the band's record label, the members exude a kind of giddy youthfulness that makes them always approachable. It's this tension that makes their fans, better known as "Blinks", feel fiercely connected to their cause.
Related GalleriesAnd that loyalty translates into big business for the brands that Blackpink members Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo choose to wear or hold ambassador contracts with.
Last year, Self-Portrait founder Han Chong told WWD that he sold the cardigan Jennie wore in a Netflix documentary about the group in five sets.
Mimi Wade, a British designer who has dressed Jennie and Rosé on several occasions, said that "the reaction has been huge, I get a lot of messages, fan art, collages and reposts... They have a huge influence on fashion and people rely heavily on them for inspiration.She too has pushed through several production cycles of models worn by girls.
In the six years since their debut, each member of Blackpink has individually signed jewelry, beauty, and fashion deals that are each valued in the seven-figure range. Lisa, with the most followers on Instagram with 81 million people, holds contracts with Celine and Bulgari; Jennie is signed with Chanel and promotes its fashion, accessories and fine jewelry as well as eyewear design for Gentle Monster; Jisoo is the official ambassador for Dior's fashion and beauty activities; and Rosé is signed with Yves Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co.
Blackpink's Jennie Kim front row at the Chanel Spring 2022 show. Stephane Feugere/WWDAlexandre Arnault, Executive Vice President for Products and Communications of Tiffany & Co., said of the group, "Blackpink has...
In the early hours of Friday morning, a phenomenon will break out on the internet. Blackpink, the biggest girl group in the world and the most successful girl group in K-pop history, will release their first new single in nearly two years.
"Pink Venom", as the song is titled, has already caused quite a stir before its release. Last week, teaser images and videos circulating on social media crossed millions of eyeballs and inspired frenzy among their fans, a global audience that – judging by the group's Instagram following alone – is bigger than the population of a medium-sized European country. "Pink Venom" is part of the upcoming album, "Born Pink", which is due out mid-September and will be accompanied by a world tour.
What Blackpink did better than any girl group before using fashion as a tool to position its members as larger-than-life idols – more sleek, composed and beautiful than mere humans. But in carefully edited videos and behind-the-scenes reports released by the band's record label, the members exude a kind of giddy youthfulness that makes them always approachable. It's this tension that makes their fans, better known as "Blinks", feel fiercely connected to their cause.
Related GalleriesAnd that loyalty translates into big business for the brands that Blackpink members Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo choose to wear or hold ambassador contracts with.
Last year, Self-Portrait founder Han Chong told WWD that he sold the cardigan Jennie wore in a Netflix documentary about the group in five sets.
Mimi Wade, a British designer who has dressed Jennie and Rosé on several occasions, said that "the reaction has been huge, I get a lot of messages, fan art, collages and reposts... They have a huge influence on fashion and people rely heavily on them for inspiration.She too has pushed through several production cycles of models worn by girls.
In the six years since their debut, each member of Blackpink has individually signed jewelry, beauty, and fashion deals that are each valued in the seven-figure range. Lisa, with the most followers on Instagram with 81 million people, holds contracts with Celine and Bulgari; Jennie is signed with Chanel and promotes its fashion, accessories and fine jewelry as well as eyewear design for Gentle Monster; Jisoo is the official ambassador for Dior's fashion and beauty activities; and Rosé is signed with Yves Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co.
Blackpink's Jennie Kim front row at the Chanel Spring 2022 show. Stephane Feugere/WWDAlexandre Arnault, Executive Vice President for Products and Communications of Tiffany & Co., said of the group, "Blackpink has...
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