"I Thought It Was Middle-Aged Men's Hiking Wear"... 20- and 30-Somethings Open Their Wallets for "This Padded Jacket"

Shorter and Lighter Than Long Padded Coats... Colorful Lightweight Padded Jackets Gain Popularity
Practical, Too: Outerwear in Fall and a Layering Piece in Winter

As the weather turns noticeably colder, more people are looking for outerwear. Lightweight padded jackets, once strongly associated with middle-aged and older consumers, are quickly finding their way into the shopping carts of people in their 20s and 30s. Unlike the achromatic long padded coats once dubbed the "national uniform," today's lightweight padded jackets are lighter and come in a wider variety of colors and designs.

As daily temperature swings widen, demand for lightweight padded jackets that are easy to put on and take off is rising. The photo shows lightweight padded jackets on display at a clothing store on Myeongdong Street in Seoul. Yonhap News Agency

In the past, lightweight padded jackets were mainly worn for warmth under thick outerwear. Most came in understated colors such as black, gray and navy, and featured slim designs that fit close to the body. Things have changed recently. As their uses have expanded - worn as standalone outerwear in fall and layered under coats or padded jackets in winter - more consumers are considering design and color as well as warmth when choosing one.

From "middle-aged men's hiking wear" to a "hip" fashion item sought by people in their 20s and 30s

Yoon, a woman in her 40s, recently visited a shopping mall to buy a birthday present for her daughter, a second-year middle school student, and saw firsthand how popular lightweight padded jackets have become. "My husband's closet used to be full of these, so I was surprised when my daughter said all her classmates are wearing lightweight padded jackets these days," Yoon said. "The one she wanted was already sold out at the store, so I placed an order for delivery before leaving."

Sales figures also reflect this trend. According to fashion platform MUSINSA, transaction value in the lightweight padded jacket category rose 718% in August from the same period a year earlier. This is thought to reflect both fashion companies' decision to make lightweight padded jackets key products for this year's fall/winter season and early-bird demand from shoppers looking to buy them before the cold sets in.

Lightweight padded jackets on display at Lotte Mall Gimpo Airport. They come in a variety of colors. Reporter Shin Eunseo.

With demand from younger consumers growing, brands are adding color and design to lightweight padded jackets. Korean fashion brand Kabisi introduced a product in a soft pink shade called "Cloud Pink," while Open Yy launched a sky-blue lightweight puffer jacket. Reuareu is selling a mustard-colored hooded lightweight padded jacket.

MUSINSA STANDARD also released its "City Leisure Sheer Hooded Light Down Jacket" in nine colors this year. Another lightweight down product is available in a variety of colors, including khaki, cloudy blue, pistachio and dusty beige.

This shift is not limited to lightweight padded jackets. According to lifestyle and culture company LF, from August 1 to 23, searches for the keyword "purple" on LF Mall rose 53% from the same period a year earlier across various clothing categories, including cardigans and knitwear. Searches for "burgundy" increased 68%.

Materials and silhouettes are changing, too. Fashion companies are increasingly using styles that differ from conventional outdoor lightweight padded jackets, such as sheer fabrics that subtly reveal the filling and non-quilted designs with minimal stitching. As these jackets have evolved from thermal innerwear into fashion outerwear, materials and design, along with color, have become ways to stand out.

Buying padded jackets at convenience stores, too... Price competition for "value-for-money" products in the 30,000-50,000 won range

Relatively affordable prices are also seen as a factor behind the popularity of lightweight padded jackets. As demand grows, convenience stores and SPA brands alike are rolling out products priced between 30,000 and 50,000 won.

Emart24 launched its first lightweight padded jacket this year, priced at 34,900 won. CU has also been selling a lightweight padded jacket for 39,900 won since October 22. It has also introduced fleece jackets and windbreakers, expanding its range from small cold-weather items such as socks and gloves to outerwear.

CU said on the 12th that it would expand its winter clothing offerings to include items such as fleece and lightweight padded jackets. BGF Retail

Clothing specialty stores also offer products at relatively affordable prices. The "Airtech Parka" from SPA brand TOPTEN10 is priced at 59,900 won, while SPAO's "Thinlight Women's Hooded Jacket" has been available online for prices in the high 40,000-won range.

Shin, a job seeker in her 20s, said, "Even short coats often cost more than 150,000 won, while there are lightweight padded jackets to choose from starting in the 30,000-won range. They're less of a burden price-wise, so I think they're a reasonable purchase."

With their versatility - worn as standalone outerwear in fall and layered under thick coats in winter - as well as their range of colors and designs and competitive prices, lightweight padded jackets are expanding beyond thermal wear for a particular generation to become everyday fashion items for people in their 20s and 30s.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.