For the “Pachinko” Costume Designer, Every Garment Carries Significance
May 05, 2022 at 08:55PM Since its much-anticipated debut in late March, “Pachinko,” based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, has captivated viewers with its gripping story of one Korean family through four generations. While “Pachinko” is a work of fiction, the Apple TV+ series - like the book - effortlessly weaves historical authenticity into the lives of its fictional characters. In fact, authenticity was the “bedrock” of the show, as Soo Hugh, the creator, showrunner, writer, and executive producer, has frequently spoken about maintaining the historical accuracy of Korea throughout the 1900s. Hugh captures the era through the characters, the beautiful sets, the vivid food, and of course, the clothing. In only five months, costume designer Kyunghwa Chae procured all of the period garments of “Pachinko,” about 80 percent of which were custom-made. Others were discovered from…
