Personal Touches and Brave Designs: A Closer Look at the UTE

I added a small personal touch to the U-toe detail on the upper—I wanted to tone it down just a little bit more, so I went in with a permanent marker. 😂 I'm actually really happy with how it turned out. Just thought I’d share this as a fun little tip—something you can try too!

Introducing the 𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>, now available at Soobaak Vintage. I had quite a few things to say during the product planning process—so consider this one a collab with a bit of Soobaak’s nagging spirit baked in.

Honestly, creating something original in a market that still values authenticity is a bold move, especially when you're entering a category already shaped by iconic designs. That’s why I have real respect for what IYSO did with the UTE. The U-toe vamp line with visible stitching, the Western-style buckle that vaguely echoes a naja silhouette—it’s a gutsy reinterpretation, and one that confidently draws its own line. Soobaak respects brands that stand firm in their identity!

The silhouette might divide opinions, but the comfort? Undeniable. It’s rare to find such solid wearability in this kind of mule/slipper type, but you can tell they really invested time in developing the footbed.

You can try them on in person at Soobaak Sinsa, or check them out online—we’ve already updated the store. Hope you enjoy them, and as always, thank you!

P.S. As someone who's tried everything from the Birkenstock Boston to slipper styles from Needles and TOGA—I can confidently recommend the UTE as a worthy addition right next to your Bostons.

𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>

𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>

𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>

𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>

𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>

🍉 𝗜𝗬𝗦𝗢-𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 <𝙐𝙏𝙀>

🍉 Colors: Taupe / Crema / Black

🍉 Sizes: 230mm–290mm (10mm increments)

🍉 Price: 108,000 KRW

The UTE, first in the IYSO-EVER line, is a mule-style shoe featuring a cork midsole, EVA outsole, and a soft suede footbed. Its standout details include the stitched U-toe vamp line and a Western-inspired buckle. Available in Taupe, Crema, and Black.

Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, each pair comes with a pair of heavy-duty socks (cotton/poly 8:2 blend in cream) and a dust bag.

@iyso_official

@soobaak_vintage

#soobaakvintage

#iyso #iysoever #iysoever #UTE

The Setup for the Suitless

A Suit for the Suitless — Engineered Garments Andover Set

Not long ago, I asked my friend Junseop about the Leica Q. I’ve been eyeing one, but I told him, “Hey, I’m totally clueless about cameras—would it still make sense?”He shot back, “That’s exactly why the Leica Q series exists. It’s made for people like you.”

That’s the same way I feel about this Andover setup from Engineered Garments. Think of it as a suit for people who know nothing about suits.You're not a suit-wearing person, but still, you want one good set that can take you from a casual dinner to your cousin’s wedding, just by swapping out innerwear and shoes?Then this is the one.Sure, there are other options out there. But let’s be honest—EG has held the throne for over a decade, and for good reason. That legacy doesn’t fade.

The Andover jacket I wore today? Still undefeated.The consignor says he only wore the jacket twice, and never wore the pants. So condition-wise, we’re talking basically new, but at secondhand prices.Go on—treat yourself.

🍉 Engineered Garments Andover Jacket _Wool

• Size L (Recommended for 105–110)

• The look totally changes depending on whether you tuck in or leave out the flap pockets. For the record—I tuck.

• Sold out

• Made in USA

🍉 Engineered Garments Andover Pants _Wool

• Size L (Recommended for waist 35–38”)

• Measurements: Waist 48cm | Rise 31cm | Thigh 39cm | Hem 21cm | Length 100cm

• Slightly relaxed fit through the thigh

• Sold out

• Made in USA

🍉 Chrome Hearts Givenhed (Full Set, Brand New)

• 52□21-145

• ₩1,450,000

• Made in Japan

🍉 1985 Vintage Cartier Santos Quartz (Full Set, 35mm incl. crown)

• Original full set: warranty, booklet, box, extra links

• Fully overhauled

• ₩3,900,000 (cash only

)• Currently fitted with a ghost dial (gray aftermarket), but of course includes the original white Roman dial too!

PS – Buy the full Andover set for ₩850,000.Retail value? Around ₩1,700,000.Yup, that’s 50% off. Let’s gooo 🛍

🔖 Hashtags

#soobaakvintage #suitsfortheclueless

#engineeredgarmentsandover

#ajusshistyle #grownupcasual

The Honest Charm of Joseon Folkcraft

In my opinion, calligraphy is harder than ceramics, and ceramics are harder than wooden furniture. So when it comes to entering the world of Native Joseon aesthetics, the best starting point is small wooden pieces—like stationery boxes or inkstone cases. Or perhaps a humble soban (a traditional Korean low table).

These kinds of objects fall into what we usually call folk art. That is, something that exists between art and product—folk between art and product.

The beauty of Korean folk craft lies in its simplicity—in its lack. These weren’t pieces made for royal courts. They were used by ordinary people in daily life. There’s no gold leaf, no extravagant patterns. Just everyday materials, put together with utilitarian intent. But give them 200 years, and they begin to carry a richness—like a stew that’s been simmering forever. That’s the charm of native Joseon artifacts.

The more I see them, the more I fall in love. I truly believe these Joseon-era pieces are one of the most underrated “blue-chip” assets still available today. When you consider their beauty and historical value, the prices almost feel too good to be true.

So I say—may everyone enjoy them freely. That ultra-minimal metalwork on the hardware? It’s no joke.

🍉 Joseon-Era Wooden Box

🍉 295,000 KRW

PS – Currently at the top floor of Shinsegae Main Store’s The Heritage (Luxury Hall 2), there's an exhibit featuring Joseon-era objects alongside works by contemporary artists. It’s pretty striking to see native Joseon pieces displayed in the same space as ultra-luxury brands like Chanel. That contrast… it really says something.

#soobaakvintage

#soobaakfolkart

#koreanantiques #nativejoseon

#joseondynasty #mingei #folkcraft