Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Elena is a costume designer with a deep-rooted passion for history and historical dress. She has always had a special interest in hanbok, and during her undergraduate studies in Fashion Industry at Sungshin Women’s University, she had the opportunity to explore it in greater depth—deepening her understanding of traditional Korean attire and its cultural significance.

Now based in Los Angeles, Elena is pursuing her MFA in Costume Design at UCLA, where she continues to refine her craft and expand her creative perspective. Beyond the costume shop, she finds inspiration in many forms—especially through drawing. Whether she’s sketching fashion figures, painting portraits, or simply filling pages with spontaneous ideas, drawing remains one of her favorite ways to connect with her imagination. She also loves watching films and TV series, often analyzing characters’ costumes and how visual storytelling is shaped through costume. For Elena, design is not just a career, but a way of seeing and understanding the world around her.