As the application of body shape correction effect is added to the practicality of clothes that can be worn from interseason to midsummer, the range is expanding to everyday wear as well as office worker’s work look. According to the fashion industry, demand for see-through clothes is rapidly increasing. According to Women’s Fashion Platform 29CM, the transaction volume of see-through knitwear surged 425 percent year-on-year in the past month. See-through T-shirts also increased 370 percent during the same period. Zigzag, run by Kakao Style, saw-through blouse and see-through shirt transactions increased 184 percent and 81 percent, respectively. Women’s fashion platform W Concept also showed an upward trend, with sales of related products increasing 20 percent year-on-year.
See-through is literally a style that looks see-through. Light and transparent fabrics such as oganja, shearer, and lace are mainly used. Due to the nature of the material, in the past, black lace or mesh materials were used to emphasize the exposure and sensual beauty of the body.
Recently, however, it has become a daily style as its utilization as layered (overlapping) items has increased. They can combine see-through items on top of a basic T-shirt or sleeveless top, or add see-through materials on top of skirt or pants. The demand is increasing as it can be styled widely from inter-season to mid-summer when the weather fluctuates. In addition, it is gaining popularity among female consumers in their 20s and 30s as it adds body shape correction effect that covers the flabby skin and neatens the silhouette due to the characteristics of the soft flowing fabric.
Celebrities’ styling also affected the change of trend. Girl group Aespa member Winter drew attention by showing off her style of wearing a light green see-through shirt on top of a checkered shirt. In the past, see-through was mainly used for red carpet or party clothes, but recently, it has been regarded as a “style that anyone can try” in the popular area as layered production combined with everyday items has spread. Fashion brands are also expanding their product lines to reflect this trend. SPA (manufacturing direct clothing) brand Spao, which E-Land World is developing, expanded its line-up of see-through shirts from 7 last year to 9 this year. Reflecting demand, the company has expanded its customer choices by introducing not only basic colors such as white and beige but also trendy colors such as brown and lavender.
Based on online reviews and sales data, the company analyzed the preferred colors for each season and planned the products by considering the color and the degree of reflection suitable for the characteristics of the materials, the company stressed. With this strategy working, the sales of the see-through shirt range of Spao increased by nine times (790 percent) year-on-year this year (January 1 to April 22). In particular, the range of products is expanding recently as a work look. Due to the nature of the material, it is easy to carry around due to its low wrinkle, and it is easy to use as a thin outerwear, making it easy to cope with changes in indoor and outdoor temperatures. The soft silhouette creates a sophisticated atmosphere, which makes it easy to use as an office look.
The see-through blouse of Vanessa Bruno, a French designer brand imported by LF, is also popular. According to the company, sales of the blouse product line with the material increased by 50 percent year-on-year last month. Notably, the Dahlia Blouse was reproduced four weeks after its launch. The company plans to introduce additional brown colors during the 2026 FW season thanks to the popularity of the products.
“In the past, see-through was a bold style worn only by celebrities, but recently, it has been reinterpreted in a layered style, expanding its scope of use,” a fashion industry official said. “The preference is increasing among people in their 20s and 30s as it can be produced in a variety of ways from season to summer.”
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
