KOREA FASHION-TECH

Korea's fashion-tech
standard.

Manufacturing, sensors, AI — under one roof.

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Manufacturing, sensors, and AI.
All of it, in a single garment.

Korean Friends is a Korean fashion-tech company founded in 2014. We manufacture apparel in our own smart factory in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, run our own fashion brands, and develop apparel RFID sensors and a fashion AI engine in house.

MANUFACTURING

40 years of craft,
now automated.

Apparel OEM/ODM manufacturing · smart-factory sewing

From fabric to finished garment, made in our own smart factory. Forty years of sewing expertise paired with digital production — OEM and ODM.

Explore +82 Factory
+82GALLERY GALLERY-X hoodie RFID-X label sewn into the hoodie collar Care label · Made in Korea
◉ RFID-X Sensor · NFC+UHF dual-band
X³ · RFID-X

A semiconductor
sewn into the garment.

RFID-X · washable apparel RFID sensor tag

From the moment it is made to the moment it is sold, a garment records its own journey. An apparel-grade semiconductor sensor that survives washing, finishing and ironing — turning clothing into an IoT device.

Waterproof & dustproofBuilt to survive the wash
Heat-resistantThrough finishing and ironing
3-in-1RFID-X · FAI-X · GALLERY-X
Explore X³
FAI-X app — product authentication screen
FAI-X

AI that
reads fashion.

FAI-X · fashion AI engine for styling and retail analytics

Styling and retail analytics built on fashion data. FAI-X is a fashion AI engine for business.

Explore Fashion AI
HISTORY

The Korean Friends journey

From the Japan entity in 2010 to RFID-X patents in 2026

  1. 2010
    Japan entity establishedStarted as a Hallyu marketing company
  2. 2014
    Korea entity incorporatedKoreanfriends Co., Ltd.
  3. 2016
    First export to DubaiEntering the Middle East
  4. 2017
    First KBP SUPERLIVE heldHallyu brand-power event
  5. 2018
    Selected as a Global Youth StartupKorea SMEs and Startups Agency
  6. 2019
    Seoul Fashion Week consortiumOverseas promotion booth program
  7. 2020
    Venture certification · $1M Export TowerMinister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award
  8. 2021
    Smart factory built · +82GALLERY launched+82 SEASON launched · manufacturing supply to The Met, New York · Seoul Top-4 Future Growth Company · $3M Export Tower
  9. 2022
    Hi Seoul Company certification$7M Export Tower (KITA)
  10. 2023
    Selected for the national brand ‘Brand K’Uniform brand WHATEVER82 launched · SME Technology Innovation R&D Program (export-oriented), KRW 2bn
  11. 2024
    $15M exclusive supply to Saudi ArabiaCORE 100 selected (Invest Seoul) · Legend 50+ fashion manufacturing
  12. 2025
    Gallery-X³ Tech launchedSelected for the SME R&D robotics track
  13. 2026
    Five registered patents for RFID-XWashable RFID tag and related garment-sensor technology
PATENTS & CERTIFICATIONS

Technology, proven by registration numbers

7 registered patents in apparel RFID sensors and hanger automation

Patents filed and registered by Korean Friends, and certifications obtained through third-party audits. The patentee of every patent listed below is Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.

0
Registered patents1 overseas · 3 pending
0
Registered trademarks2 pending
0
Design rightKIPO registered
0
Certifications & awardsISO · government
Registered patents of Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Reg. no.Title of inventionRegistered
10-2828191Operating method for an RFID-based hanger system with history tracking
10-2787573Washable RFID tag for garment data utilisation
10-2745325Automatic RFID tag attachment and RFID-based garment management system
10-2693675Automated hanger system for apparel manufacturing
10-2568124Product-mounting structure and method of manufacture
10-1993817RFID tag textile
10-0965494Multi-loop antenna for wireless readers and RFID systems

Patentee · Koreanfriends Co., Ltd. (Korean Intellectual Property Office)  ·  as of March 2026

Patent certificatesRegistered patents · 7
Korean patent certificate no. 10-2828191 — Operating method for an RFID-based hanger system with history tracking. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
RFID hanger tracking10-2828191
Korean patent certificate no. 10-2787573 — Washable RFID tag for garment data utilisation. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Washable RFID tag10-2787573
Korean patent certificate no. 10-2745325 — Automatic RFID tag attachment and RFID-based garment management system. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Auto tag attachment10-2745325
Korean patent certificate no. 10-2693675 — Automated hanger system for apparel manufacturing. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Automated hanger system10-2693675
Korean patent certificate no. 10-2568124 — Product-mounting structure and method of manufacture. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Product-mounting structure10-2568124
Korean patent certificate no. 10-1993817 — RFID tag textile. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
RFID tag textile10-1993817
Korean patent certificate no. 10-0965494 — Multi-loop antenna for wireless readers and RFID systems. Patentee: Koreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Multi-loop antenna10-0965494
Certifications & awardsAudited & government-issued · 10
ISO 9001 certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Quality management
ISO 9001Quality management
ISO 14001 certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Environmental management
ISO 14001Environmental management
Inno-Biz certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Technology innovation SME
Inno-BizTechnology innovation SME
Corporate R&D centre certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Ministry of Science and ICT
Corporate R&D centreMinistry of Science and ICT
Venture business certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Korea Venture Capital Assoc.
Venture businessKorea Venture Capital Assoc.
Brand K certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Ministry of SMEs and Startups
Brand KMinistry of SMEs and Startups
Global Growth SME certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Ministry of SMEs and Startups
Global Growth SMEMinistry of SMEs and Startups
Minister's commendation certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., Trade, Industry and Energy
Minister's commendationTrade, Industry and Energy
Smart factory upgrade certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., TIPA
Smart factory upgradeTIPA
Technology excellence certificate — Koreanfriends Co., Ltd., NICE D&B
Technology excellenceNICE D&B
BRAND COLLABORATIONS

The names you know come off this line

Licensed merchandise is the most demanding order a factory can take. Colour tolerance, print durability and label specification all have to match what the brand has written down. +82FACTORY has been producing orders that clear that bar.

New York · supply contract 2021

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store

Under an apparel supply contract with The Met in New York, we produced the Van Gogh, Hokusai, Michelangelo and Renaissance “M” hoodies and tees. The neck label carries The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York alongside Made in Korea.

See them at The Met Store
Hokusai ‘The Great Wave’ hoodie — supplied to The Met Store, manufactured by Korean Friends
Hokusai ‘The Great Wave’ hoodie
Van Gogh ‘Wheat Field with Cypresses’ hoodie — supplied to The Met Store, manufactured by Korean Friends
Van Gogh ‘Wheat Field with Cypresses’ hoodie
Michelangelo hoodie — supplied to The Met Store, manufactured by Korean Friends
Michelangelo hoodie
The Met logo sweatshirt — supplied to The Met Store, manufactured by Korean Friends
The Met logo sweatshirt
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins authentic jersey — manufactured by +82FACTORY
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins authentic jersey
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins tee — manufactured by +82FACTORY
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins tee
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins kids jersey — manufactured by +82FACTORY
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins kids jersey
BLACKPINK gradation crop hoodie — manufactured by +82FACTORY
BLACKPINK gradation crop hoodie
Pokémon DTF-printed tee — manufactured by +82FACTORY
Pokémon DTF-printed tee
Marvel oversize tee — manufactured by +82FACTORY
Marvel oversize tee
SBS cheer zip-up hoodie — manufactured by +82FACTORY
SBS cheer zip-up hoodie
2023 Seoul Fashion Week terry tee — manufactured by +82FACTORY
2023 Seoul Fashion Week terry tee

These are items +82FACTORY manufactured. All brand rights remain with their respective owners.

FACILITIES

Cutting to shipping, inside one address

In-house production site in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul · sewing · printing · fulfilment · R&D lab

The sewing floor, the print room, the warehouse and the research lab sit in the same complex. Nothing is subcontracted out and trucked between steps, so samples turn around quickly and problems surface the same day.

+82FACTORY sewing floor with the overhead hanger conveyor system
+82FACTORYBuilding C, 2F

A knit-specialist sewing floor with automated cutting and an overhead hanger line. Cutting, sewing and packing all finish on the same floor.

+82DESIGN print room with DTF transfer printers and powder shakers
+82DESIGNBuilding C, 1F

DTF transfer printing and heat presses, run in-house. Print artwork is checked as a physical sample in the same building and corrected on the spot.

+82HOUSE fulfilment floor with packing stations and outbound stock
+82HOUSEBuilding C, 1F

Urban fulfilment. Finished goods move into storage without leaving the site, then ship domestically or overseas.

+82 R&D lab bench with RFID antenna measurement equipment and a microscope
+82 R&DBuilding A, 1F

The Smart Fashion Tech Center — our corporate R&D centre accredited by the Ministry of Science and ICT, where RFID-X antenna measurement and apparel IoT work happens.

468 Seobusaet-gil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul · Buildings A, B and C

COMPANY

Key facts

Korean Friends key facts
Legal nameKoreanfriends Co., Ltd.
Founded2014 · Business reg. no. 201-86-41646
CEOJang Junseong (Founder)
Head officeB-1F, 468 Seobusaet-gil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Korea
Business areasApparel manufacturing (OEM/ODM) · Fashion brands · Apparel RFID sensors · Fashion AI
GlobalJapan entity (2010) · Saudi Arabia 3-year $15M exclusive supply (2024)
Recognition2024 CORE 100 · Seoul Future Growth Leader · Legend 50+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Korean Friends?

Korean Friends is a Korean fashion-tech company founded in 2014. What sets it apart is that apparel manufacturing (via a smart factory), its own fashion brands, garment RFID sensors and a fashion AI engine all sit inside one company. It is headquartered in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, and led by its founder, Jang Jun-sung.

What brands and businesses does Korean Friends operate?

+82 Season is a fashion and lifestyle group made up of +82 Gallery (apparel brand), +82 Factory (smart garment manufacturing), +82 House (logistics and fulfilment), +82 Design (custom printing) and +82 Global (digital trade). X³ (X³cubic) is the garment-IoT technology brand, and FAI-X (Fashion AI Engine) is an AI smart-fashion service. In 2023 the company launched WHATEVER82, a trend-led uniform brand.

What is X³ (X³cubic)?

X³ is Korean Friends' fashion-tech brand, built on the idea of turning clothes into IoT devices. It comprises three technologies: RFID-X, a garment-grade semiconductor sensor that is waterproof, dustproof and heat-resistant; FAI-X, an AI engine that learns from garment lifecycle data to provide styling recommendations and retail analytics; and GALLERY-X, premium tech wear with an "invisible computer" embedded in it.

Can Korean Friends manufacture apparel as an OEM/ODM partner?

Yes. +82 Factory is a smart factory with over 40 years of accumulated garment-making expertise, and has produced for major retailers. Beyond manufacturing, orders can be connected to +82 House for logistics and fulfilment and +82 Design for custom printing. To enquire, contact info@koreanfriends.co.kr or +82-70-4452-5942.

Does Korean Friends have an export track record?

Yes. In 2024 the company signed a 3-year exclusive supply contract with Saudi Arabia worth USD 15 million. Its international presence began with a Japan subsidiary in 2010 and has since expanded through Korean-wave marketing and digital trade.

What is FAI-X (Fashion AI Engine)?

FAI-X is Korean Friends' AI smart-fashion service. It has also been written as +82FAI. It provides fashion-data-driven services for B2B customers and connects to the +82 Gallery B2B mall.

How can buyers or partners get in touch?

Email info@koreanfriends.co.kr or call +82-70-4452-5942. The head office is at 1F, Building B, 468 Seobusaet-gil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

FOR BUYERS & PARTNERS

Looking for buyers
and partners.

Contract manufacturing, brand export, technology partnership — whatever it is, get in touch.

info@koreanfriends.co.kr070-4452-5942 ›
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