Post Archive Faction
How left, center, and right go beyond the political spectrum and into fashion.
I first came across Post Archive Faction (PAF) in 2020 through a vlog by Gizmo, the founder of the fashion brand CMMAWEAR. In his review, he dissected the brand’s pieces, highlighting their unconventional design language—sharp asymmetries, engineered distortions, and an architectural precision that felt distinctly different from anything else in the market. It was intriguing, but at the time, PAF was just another name in the algorithmic shuffle of emerging brands filling my feed.
That changed in 2021 when PAF unveiled its groundbreaking 3.1 collection. This collection further refined its left-to-right conceptual framework, introducing even more radical structural experimentation. The designs incorporated exaggerated asymmetries, engineered folds, and fluid architectural elements that set them apart from typical techwear aesthetics. Additionally, PAF's growing cult following in Seoul and Tokyo signaled its shift from an underground favorite to a globally recognized avant-garde label.
Being named an LVMH Prize semi-finalist cemented PAF’s status as more than just a niche techwear brand riding the gorpcore wave. There was something more deliberate at play—a fusion of fashion, architecture, and philosophy, executed with an obsessive level of structural refinement. PAF wasn’t chasing trends—it was constructing a world, methodically, collection by collection. And from that moment on, I started paying much closer attention.
In January, PAF presented their Fall-Winter 2025 collection during Paris Fashion Week under the theme ‘Future Past Present’. As the show notes describe, the collection represents the non-lineality of the creation process—waking up the archive, mixing with future dreams, breathing in the present. It also hints at a departure from their established numerical system, signaling a new phase for the brand.
LEFT, CENTER, RIGHT: The Vision of Dongjoon Lim and Sookyo Jeong
Post Archive Faction was founded in 2018 by Dongjoon Lim (Creative Director) and Sookyo Jeong (Chief Product Officer). Their background in industrial design and spatial design informs every seam, fold, and structural detail of their work. Unlike traditional fashion houses that start with fabric and silhouette, Lim and Jeong approach clothing as an architect would approach a building—breaking down garments into their core structural components and reassembling them with a calculated, almost surgical precision. Their work is defined by asymmetry, tension, and a sense of deconstruction that never results in chaos; instead, every distortion feels meticulously engineered, as if each garment exists in a state of controlled evolution.
PAF rejects traditional seasonal collections, instead adopting a distinctive numerical system. Rather than following the conventional cycle, the Korean label identifies its collections with numerical designations. Their inaugural collection was logically titled 1.0, and today we are witnessing PAF's latest iteration, 8.0 (which is available from today). This specific nomenclature serves as a constant reminder of the brand's evolution, as it continually refines both the functionality and conceptual essence of its silhouettes.
This experimental approach is rooted in PAF’s larger philosophy: to push the boundaries of garment construction through research and development, drawing inspiration from architecture, multimedia art, and nature. Lim sees clothing as more than just a medium of self-expression—it’s a form of communication, an ongoing dialogue between form and function.
That philosophy manifests in PAF’s signature left-to-right conceptual framework, mirroring the structure of a political spectrum. Each collection is divided into Right, Center, and Left variations, representing different levels of abstraction and wearability. The Right pieces are the most conventional, designed for everyday use. The Center pieces exist in a liminal space, balancing experimental design with practicality. And the Left pieces are the most radical, pushing garments to their conceptual extremes.
This layered system influences consumer perception and purchasing behavior. Those looking for a refined, structured, and more accessible look tend to gravitate toward the Right line, while more adventurous dressers experiment with the Center and Left variations. This intentional differentiation fosters a sense of exclusivity and discovery, encouraging deeper engagement with the brand’s evolving design language.
Imagine standing before three doors, each leading to a different style perspective. Step through the left door, and you enter a world of experimental silhouettes and radical reinterpretations of form. The right door leads to refined, structured pieces that lean toward tradition. The center, as expected, offers a careful balance—pushing boundaries without abandoning function.
This design system makes PAF instantly recognizable in an era where minimal branding dominates. Rather than relying on logos or monograms, the brand carves out its identity through construction, movement, and transformation—treating fashion not as a static product but as an evolving structure that interacts with the body in unexpected ways.
Beyond Aesthetic: Collaborations That Make Sense
For a brand that thrives on experimentation, it’s no surprise that PAF has built a strong history of collaborations. But unlike many fashion labels that engage in superficial partnerships—merely co-signing existing silhouettes—PAF approaches collaborations with an almost scientific level of precision. Each project feels like an extension of their core ethos: a relentless pursuit of structural innovation, informed by architecture, technology, and movement.
PAF’s most compelling collaborations not only reinforce its reputation for structural innovation and avant-garde design but also broaden its brand identity and market positioning. These partnerships serve as strategic touchpoints that extend PAF’s influence beyond the core fashion crowd, tapping into performance wear, streetwear, and even heritage markets. By working across disciplines, PAF doesn’t just diversify its aesthetic influence—it cements itself as a brand that seamlessly merges conceptual artistry with technical precision.
On – A natural crossover for a brand that operates at the intersection of performance and fashion. PAF’s collaboration with On takes the Swiss brand’s high-tech running silhouettes and pushes them into an entirely new space. The result is a fusion of On’s precision-engineered footwear with PAF’s signature deconstructed aesthetic—transforming functional running shoes into sculptural, avant-garde objects that challenge traditional performance-wear norms. Definitely my favorite collaboration of 2024.
Satisfy – A match made in technical apparel heaven. Both brands are deeply invested in the intersection of subculture, fashion, and innovation. Their collaboration reimagines running gear with a hyper-functional, almost militaristic edge, elevating performance wear into something more conceptual while maintaining its purpose-driven DNA – Sadly there is currently just one piece available that sold out immediately.
District Vision – Another nod to the growing synergy between sportswear and avant-garde design. With its focus on high-performance eyewear and mindfulness-driven athletic gear, District Vision aligns with PAF’s commitment to precision and utility.
Clarks Wallabee – The Wallabee is one of the most recognizable and timeless footwear silhouettes, standing in stark contrast to PAF’s typically futuristic aesthetic. Yet through this collaboration, PAF deconstructs the classic moccasin, introducing structural interventions that distort its form while preserving its iconic essence. The result is a piece that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
Off-White –PAF’s collaboration with Off-White marks a significant convergence of two brands deeply rooted in conceptual design and structural experimentation. Released as part of the Figures of Speech exhibition, the Off-White x PAF Equipment Collection presented a minimalist yet subversive take on everyday essentials. The partnership emphasized both brands' shared interest in reinterpreting wardrobe fundamentals through a technical and deconstructed lens, reinforcing PAF’s architectural approach while paying homage to Virgil Abloh’s legacy of redefining cultural codes in fashion.
What makes PAF’s collaborations so compelling is that they never dilute the brand’s DNA. Whether partnering with a heritage label like Clarks, a forward-thinking performance brand like On, or a culture-driven sportswear label like Satisfy, PAF ensures that every collaboration is more than just a marketing stunt—it’s a thoughtful fusion of two worlds, reinforcing their architectural approach to design while expanding the possibilities of what fashion and performance wear can achieve.
The Sweet Spot Between Gorpcore and Fashion
PAF occupies a rarefied space in contemporary fashion. It’s not pure techwear, though its garments often feature engineered precision and technical construction. It’s not purely streetwear, despite its deep resonance with urban culture and its presence in global fashion capitals. And it’s certainly not just another brand riding the gorpcore wave, though its approach to form and function aligns with the ethos of outdoor performance gear. Instead, PAF exists at the intersection of all three, crafting a vision that feels distinctly its own.
The brand’s appeal is equally diverse. Its pieces are just as likely to be spotted on the streets of Seoul, layered effortlessly in the wardrobes of forward-thinking dressers, as they are archived by global collectors who appreciate the way PAF abstracts utility into high-concept design. The modular nature of its garments—deconstructed but wearable, technical yet sculptural—ensures that they resonate with both avant-garde fashion enthusiasts and performance gear obsessives.
In an era where fashion often swings between extremes—hyper-functional, outdoor-optimized gear on one end, and wholly impractical, purely aesthetic-driven pieces on the other—PAF carves out a middle ground that feels unexpected. It embraces both function and abstraction, ensuring that its designs challenge conventional silhouettes without sacrificing wearability. It’s this ability to move fluidly between the realms of conceptual fashion and real-world application that makes PAF one of the most intriguing brands of its generation.
What’s Next for PAF?
PAF usually showcases during Paris Fashion Week, unveiling collections that refine and expand its unique aesthetic with each season. But more than just a label chasing hype, PAF operates with a sense of deliberate evolution—balancing conceptual rigor with real-world application, ensuring that its vision doesn’t just remain an avant-garde experiment, but something that actively shapes the future of fashion.
As the brand continues its expansion into the global market, the challenge will be maintaining its architectural, research-driven approach while adapting to increasing commercial demand. To sustain its experimental edge while scaling, PAF could employ a multi-faceted strategy: leveraging limited-edition capsule collections to preserve exclusivity, investing in advanced manufacturing techniques to uphold precision, and deepening collaborations with technology firms to push fabric innovation. Additionally, its Right, Center, and Left framework allows for varying degrees of experimentation without alienating its audience. The Right line anchors the brand in accessibility, while the Center and Left lines push boundaries, creating a dynamic interplay between commercial viability and artistic exploration. PAF’s past success in maintaining experimental integrity while expanding its audience suggests that these strategies are not just theoretical, but proven in practice.
PAF seems to have cracked the code—staying ahead of trends without becoming trend-dependent, operating at the intersection of performance and conceptual design without feeling forced. All signs point to PAF not just maintaining its momentum, but redefining the future of experimental fashion.
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