Alo Co-Founder Marco Degeorge Highlights Korea's Cultural Influence

Marco Degeorge, co-founder and CEO of the premium lifestyle brand Alo, recently opened the brand's first flagship store in Asia, located near Dosan Park in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. During the opening event, he emphasized Korea's pivotal role in shaping global cultural trends, stating, "Korea is currently leading global cultural trends. With groups like BLACKPINK and BTS at the forefront, Korea is recognized as a leader in music, popular culture, food, and beauty. It is only natural to prioritize Korea as a window to global trends."

Alo, which stands for Air, Land, and Ocean, was founded in 2007 by Degeorge and his childhood friend Danny Harris in Los Angeles. The brand began with yoga apparel, inspired by Degeorge's childhood back injury and Harris's mental wellness journey through meditation. Alo has gained immense popularity, with celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid frequently spotted wearing its leggings and crop tops, earning the label of 'celebrity yoga wear.' The brand is valued at over $10 billion (approximately 13 trillion KRW) as of 2023, according to Forbes.

Despite not actively marketing, Alo has appointed BLACKPINK's Jisoo and BTS's Jin as global ambassadors. Degeorge shared a nostalgic photo of Jisoo wearing an Alo beanie from about seven years ago, noting, "At that time, she wasn't the superstar she is today, but her humble yet passionate attitude and strong stage presence hinted at her future stardom. Isn’t she adorable? (laughs) We finally signed a contract two years ago, and the powerful influence she has, like 'the power to change the world' and 'inner potential,' exceeded my expectations. Yoga helped me develop that patience. Haha."

He expressed similar sentiments about Jin, stating, "Jin's cheerful personality and the message of 'love yourself' bring vibrancy to our brand. While creating and popularizing good clothing is important, I believe our primary mission is to convey positive messages to society."

Degeorge spent a significant portion of the interview discussing K-pop stars, but he concluded by emphasizing the importance of building a healthy community and delivering the right messages, stating, "The commonality between Alo and K-pop stars is precisely that."