They wear ribbons and lace on sneakers that are thin and low like ballet shoes, along with wrap cardigans and bodysuits that reveal the body's lines. The "balletcore" trend, which has drawn attention in fashion for a while, is also drawing notice as offline content at department stores and mixed-use shopping malls beyond shoes and apparel.
According to the industry on the 8th, global sports brands such as Adidas and Asics have recently rolled out a series of shoes inspired by ballet slippers. As so-called "sneakerina" (sneakers + ballerina), which combines sneakers and ballet flats, has taken root as a category, related products are increasing.
A prime example is Superstar Square Ballet, the first collaboration collection Adidas unveiled with Blackpink Jennie early this month. It reinterprets Adidas' signature sneaker Superstar into a thin, low profile like ballet pointe shoes. Unlike the original Superstar, it features an angular square toe and adds elements reminiscent of ballet shoes, such as leather and ribbons.
Earlier, Asics released Gel-Cumulus 16 in June in collaboration with British singer-songwriter Griff. The shoe retains the distinctive silhouette of Asics running shoes while combining the elegance associated with ballet. It features white ribbon laces.
New Balance, known for its running shoes, also drew popularity with its Flat Breeze series released in May this year. The design evokes ballet flats with a lower and sleeker silhouette than conventional sneakers, but the outsole with sneaker technology delivered comfortable wear that spread by word of mouth.
As more women in their 20s and 30s take up ballet as a hobby, related spending is spreading into everyday fashion, analysts said. With more people turning to ballet for posture correction, strength training, and body shaping, it is becoming a routine exercise like Pilates or yoga.
As interest grows in ballet practice wear such as leotards, wrap skirts, and leg warmers, products applying the distinctive designs and silhouettes to everyday clothing are coming out one after another. In the past, ballet mainly conjured feminine images like pink, ribbons, and lace, but recently many are borrowing actual practice-wear traits such as body-hugging cuts and layered wearing.
The Adidas and Jennie collaboration collection includes not only shoes but also bodysuits, sheer leggings, wrap skirts, wrap cardigans, and leg warmers. From bodysuits that accentuate the body's lines to layered wrap cardigans and knee-length leg warmers worn over leggings or bare legs, these products reinterpret outfits you might see in a ballet studio.
As ballet-related spending rises, department stores and mixed-use malls are opening a series of pop-up stores. Hyundai Department Store held a "Ballet Closet" pop-up at The Hyundai Seoul from the 27th of last month to the 2nd of this month, showcasing major ballet and dancewear brands such as Messiah Dancewear. A ballet class linked to the pop-up closed just 10 seconds after registration opened.
I'Park Mall Yongsan operated a "Ballet Atelier" pop-up in June with six balletwear specialty brands. After a successful solo pop-up by balletwear brand Daphnerol earlier, it expanded the scale by bringing multiple brands together. Because most are online-focused brands, the ability to try on products in person and compare materials and fit drew a positive response.
Some say the popularity of balletcore is not unrelated to a social mood of heightened interest in weight and body-shape management. With the spread of obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro and growing demand for slim fits that reveal body lines instead of oversized fits, ballet fashion that emphasizes the body's lines is also drawing attention.
An industry official said, "As the number of hobby ballet participants, called 'chibal-leo,' increases, balletwear brands that lead with reasonable prices and design are becoming more diverse," and added, "After weight loss, more consumers are seeking clothes that reveal body lines rather than oversized fits, and as silhouettes change, shoes also seem to be gaining popularity in thinner, sleeker designs rather than bulky forms."