Gentle Monster Review

An art exhibit or a sunglasses boutique?

Gentle Monster is a cutting-edge sunglasses boutique that elevates what a shopping experience can be. Only five years old, Gentle Monster is gaining traction both domestically in Korea and internationally as a rising sunglasses boutique. Started by Kim Hankook, the boutique focusses on what he calls the PSSCT system. PSSCT stands for "product," "space," "styling," culture redesign," and "technology," and both Gentle Monster's products and actual boutique space itself embodies all these factors.

When you first approach Gentle Monster from the street, you would never guess it's a sunglasses boutique. Rather, it looks like an art gallery, and the first floor, which you can usually see through glass windows, is decorated with a seasonal art exhibit that embodies each season's vision.

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After exploring the first floor, you can move up to the actual sunglasses showroom upstairs. The design is minimalistic, allowing the sunglasses to attract the main attention. They are mainly organized by design, but they also showcase several colors of each design. Because the showroom is designed in a 360 degree way, you are allowed to take your time exploring and trying on the sunglasses. It also allows the customers to be completely immersed in the products, not allowing them to really think about anything else.

After choosing the sunglasses you want, you are then ushered to a separate room where you can hand the glasses to a worker who will then hand you a buzzer, like the ones you get at restaurants. As you wait, you can either explore another of their art exhibits or another showroom filled with daily glasses, again immersing yourself into Gentle Monster's Room.

Once your buzzer rings, you head to the cashier's desk. They ask you to test the sunglasses on your face, adjusting it to your particular face shape. They have also done a thorough cleaning and warming of the sunglasses. Wrapping it in plastic, they place it gently into the sunglasses case, concluding the end of this journey.

Personally, I believe Gentle Monster elevates the boundaries of a shopping experience. Also, each of the glasses are carefully made, and they are also constructed to fit the standard Asian face with a low nose-bridge. I know for me, it is hard to find sunglasses that fit my own face shape, so it is nice to have a store that finally provides a fit. Although the sunglasses are pricey, I do believe they are worth the splurge, especially if you decide to buy them at an actual store.

Check out more of Gentle Monster's products here!

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