Asking “How will the weather be this summer?” feels almost pointless. Every summer seems to be hotter than the last — a straightforward consequence of global warming. We’ll be battling the heat again this year, but don’t freak out. Humans adapt. Since our ancestors first appeared in Africa roughly 200,000 years ago, we’ve survived by being remarkably adaptable.
It’s May, but feels like early summer. South Korea’s weather is swinging to extremes — brutal cold or sweltering heat — and the in-between seasons of spring and fall are disappearing. Closets are now dominated by winter and summer pieces. In the men’s market, which generally has less buying power than women’s, the slice of business for spring-and-fall suits has shrunk dramatically. In its place: heavy winter outerwear and lightweight summer gear.
More offices have simply stopped enforcing formal suits. During heat waves some workplaces boost comfort and productivity by banning ties or even allowing shorts. When it’s bitterly cold, it’s become normal to see people reach for long padded coats instead of classic overcoats.
Dry-cleaning chain Cleantopia even started texting discounts for its winter-clothes storage service — a marketing move that signals just how early the heat arrived this year.
Come to think of it, winter-clothes storage services are everywhere.
You’ll spot ads for storage services on shopping-site banners and even inside apartment elevators. A quick search turns up companies that both launder and store clothing — Cleantopia, Mataju — alongside firms that only provide storage like Darak, QStorage, AlphaBox, NemoStorage, and IamBox. These services let people tuck away winter wardrobes during the off-season.
Honestly, it’s natural to feel uneasy about handing over your worn, cherished, or expensive garments to a company you don’t know, stored at an unfamiliar location. So why are these services booming? Because the average living space for a single young adult is just 33.7 m2 (2020 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport housing survey), roughly 363 sq ft. Young people pack everything they own into a tiny 10-pyeong (about 356 sq ft) space.
Judging by the terms used by storage companies, the garments aren’t necessarily kept in better condition than they would be at home. People pay to store precious items simply because their homes are too small. With housing prices so high, finding extra room is a struggle — for people and their clothes alike. Carving out space to store seasonal wardrobes has become nearly impossible.
That reality hits young people especially hard. Many live in goshiwons or tiny studio units, yet they’re at the age when interest in fashion peaks. Whether shopping budget-friendly or designer labels, they’re the ones buying the most clothes — and now they have to worry about where to keep them.
When you don’t have space, fashion can feel like a luxury.
If you have to think about storage before price when you see a cute outfit, it’s hard to pursue bold, individual style. People criticize Koreans for dressing the same or sticking to safe looks — but maybe that conformity has less to do with taste and more to do with limited living space. Before blaming young people for buying cheap clothes that last one season, shouldn’t we ask whether they even have room to store garments long-term? The boom in functional activewear might partly reflect a sad truth: cramped spaces force exercise clothes to serve as workout wear, going-out outfits, and everyday loungewear all at once.
Still, we can’t go naked. We have to face heat and cold while keeping our style. Whether you use a winter-clothes storage service or finally declutter that overflowing closet, find a solution. Humans adapt — and South Koreans have a history of enduring tough conditions. We know space and fashion don’t always coexist easily. Think it through, get creative, and keep pursuing your personal style.
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