BAROQUE HOLIDAYS: Versace brand ambassador Hyunjin from K-pop sensation Stray Kids is fronting the luxury brand’s holiday ad campaign — his first official commitment for the house since being named to the role last July.
Boasting a combined social media following of 85.2 millions fans, Hyunjin, decked in Versace gear, is captured standing beside a decorated Christmas tree, sitting on the snow and blowing a kiss to the camera, or holding a sparkle stick. He is flanked by other talents including Amelia Gray, Hedi Ben Tekaya, and Sacha Quenby.
“I wanted to celebrate joy with this holiday campaign — the joy of the season and being surrounded by those we love. I am thrilled Hyunjin has become part of our Versace family. I love his energy and the joyful spirit he brings to these images,” said Donatella Versace, chief creative officer of the house.
The campaign marks the debut of Versace’s Athena tote bag crafted from Global Organic Textile Standard-certified cotton canvas and bearing the Versace logo and a tone-on-tone jacquard Barocco motif. In the holiday campaign imagery, Hyunjin pairs the mini size in beige with matching colored cotton shirt and chino pants, as well as Barocco jacquard Odissea sneakers.
“Versace is exactly how I want the holiday season to be — it’s exciting, looks amazing, feels incredible, and is shared with good friends. That is how I felt making this campaign with my Versace family. Thank you, Donatella, you are the best!” said Hyunjin.
The images by Italian photographer Angelo Pennetta are flanked by videos by Rosie Marks in which Hyunjin is seen unboxing a gift and sprinkling festive glitter while spotlighting the Athena bag.
Talents don day-to-night outfits, from dressy tailored looks, including a wool and Lurex double-breasted blazer bearing the Barocco patterns and a jacquard Barocco cashmere coat, to cashmere sweatpants and trenchcoats.
Stray Kids’ Hyunjin fronts the Versace 2023 holiday ad campaign.
Angelo Pennetta/Courtesy of Versace
Before joining Versace in the ambassador role, Hyunjin attended the brand’s “La Vacanza” fashion show last summer alongside American rapper Future, actress Simone Ashley and singer Troye Sivan, among other guests. He also attended the official opening of a Versace pop-up in Seoul in July.
In his role he joined the likes of Chinese singer, actress and model Chris Lee, who fronted the Versace Icons campaign alongside Anne Hathaway.
The eight-member K-pop band Stray Kids includes Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N., in addition to Hyunjin, a dancer, rapper and vocalist.
The boy band was formed in 2017 through the namesake reality show by JYP Entertainment. Originally a nine-member group, Woojin left the group for personal reasons in October 2019.
Stray Kids released their first extended play “Mixtape” in January 2018. The group’s first studio album, “Go Live,” was released in 2020, becoming their first platinum-certified one. In 2021 they released their second — and first million-selling — studio album, “Noeasy” before signing with Republic Records for promotion in the U.S. in 2022, on the back of which their EP “Maxident” sold 3 million copies.
In July the group released their third studio album, “5-Star,” and embarked a month later on their latest tour “5-Star Dome Tour” which kicked off in Fukuoka, Japan, and touched down in South Korea.