Timeless Craftsmanship: Vintage Ortega’s Wool Jacket

Some brands have been in business for 100, 200, even 300 years, dedicated to a single craft. While Korea doesn’t have brands like that, it’s not really our fault—we went through Japanese colonization and the Korean War. Ortega, on the other hand, has been producing the same incredible textiles since the 1700s and is still going strong today. That kind of longevity speaks for itself. Respect.

Now, let me introduce the oldest Ortega piece in Soobaak’s collection. I can’t say for sure exactly how old it is, but I estimate it to be from before the 1950s. If anyone out there has more precise information, drop a comment! This vintage Ortega jacket is a women’s piece with a beautifully defined waistline. And despite all my years of sourcing and hunting, I’ve never come across something like this before. A label I’ve never seen, a silhouette I’ve never encountered... How could I possibly pass it up?

Ortega

vtg Ortega

Ortega

Ortega wool jacket

Vintage Ortega

Ortega

Ortega Jacket

Ortega Wool Jacket

Ortega Wool Jacket

Ortega

If you know Soobaak, you know we love curating the perfect balance of "product, artwork, and folk craft." This Ortega piece sits somewhere between artwork and folk craft—something truly special. Imagine pairing it with contemporary pieces; the styling possibilities are endless. If I had to put together a look with this jacket, the first thing I’d reach for is a suede Chanel bag.

Ah—seeing it on the mannequin, this jacket almost feels like an interior design piece. It has a presence, a power to it. Hope it finds its way to someone who truly appreciates it.

🍉 Vintage ORTEGA's Wool Jacket for Women (Recommended for size 55~66)

🍉 ₩1,100,000

#SoobaakVintage

#Ortega

#Ortegas

#Vintage

Casual Luxury: The Underrated Hermès Bags You Should Know

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

Don’t you think my beat-up Carhartt and faded Hermès make the perfect match?

I got incredibly lucky and managed to score two old Hermès Cabags in black. If you know Soobaak, you know we sell just about everything… but this bag? I regretted selling it so much. 

At the time, I thought, I’ll just find another one later. But nope—turns out, getting a large size is nearly impossible.

So after years of hunting in Japan, the U.S., and Korea, I finally tracked down just two.

If someone told me to pick five Hermès bags, my list would be:

1️⃣ Cabag 40 (Black or Brown)

2️⃣ Herbag 39 (Black or Beton)

3️⃣ Birkin 40 (Black, Brown, or Red)

4️⃣ Fourre-Tout Cabas (the tall one)

5️⃣ Polochon (large size)

What’s the criteria? The most affordable Hermès bags (excluding the Birkin), all from the Margiela era, and some of the most casual designs from any luxury brand. And best of all? Bags that don’t scream Hermès at first glance.

Oh, and today’s photos were taken by Soobaak Manager, inspired by Ban Yoonhee’s style. As you can see, the big size works perfectly for women too—keep that in mind! Hope anyone who loves this bag gets to enjoy it.

🍉 Old Hermès Cabag 40

🍉 Width: 40cm | Height: 40cm

🍉 Well-loved condition

🍉 1,800,000 KRW

Made in France

PS: The previous owner bought it in Paris over a decade ago for around 4 million KRW.

#SoobaakVintage

#SoobaakTeam

#SoobaakOldLuxury

#OldHermes

#HermesCabag

#VintageHermes

#SoobaakLuxuryResale

Soobaak Folk Art: Native African Mask

The highlight of my recent buying trip to New York was discovering a Native African supplier. While it would be amazing to bring back a full container of goods, that’s beyond Soobaak’s current scale. For now, our selection will include some vintage textiles and curated objects like this mask, carefully filtered through Soobaak’s lens.

Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (1973) album cover

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

I have a heartwarming story from the buying process. I was so captivated by the Native African items that I selected them with reckless enthusiasm—only to realize I was about $1,200 short in cash. I asked the vendor if I could send the remaining amount later from Korea. To my surprise, he agreed without hesitation, trusting me with such a significant amount. I believe this trust stems from the credibility built by my past dealings with other Korean partners. It’s truly gratifying to feel that kind of recognition and trust.

At Soobaak, we like to balance spaces with a mix of products, artworks, and crafts—roughly in a 5:3:2 ratio. This balance keeps the space from feeling too predictable, adds just the right amount of commercial appeal, and creates warmth.

This Native African mask fits perfectly into the craft category. When selecting craft items, I lean towards pieces with a hint of modern DNA rather than something entirely traditional. This allows them to blend seamlessly with the furniture and artworks I already have.

This particular mask was traditionally worn by men during festivals, funerals, or when welcoming esteemed guests. As with many objects of this kind, its symbolism revolves around prosperity and protection. The horns and teeth signify a fierce determination to safeguard their people.

I had seen similar masks during visits to inspiring spaces, so when I spotted this one in New York, I didn’t hesitate to bring it back. Isn’t it just adorable? I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you, as always, for your support.

🍉 Antique Native African Wooden Mask

🍉 Face only: Width 22.5cm | Height 25cm

🍉 Including horns: Width 22.5cm | Height 40cm

🍉 600,000 KRWFun Fact: A similar piece was auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2008 for $10,755 (approx. 14.5 million KRW).

P.S. The last photo is from a select shop in Osaka.

#SoobaakVintage

#SoobaakFolkArt

#NativeAfrican

#GolibauleMask

#Golibaule