Kwon Eunbi reveals failed clothing business with Jeong Ye-in

Singer Kwon Eunbi revealed her past experience of attempting and failing at a clothing business alongside Jeong Ye-in, a former member of the group Lovelyz. While both have garnered public attention through their idol activities, they ventured into a business where they personally planned and produced products separately from their entertainment careers, but ultimately had to close the business after being left with significant inventory. Kwon recalled that this experience actually served as an opportunity to make their relationship even stronger.

On the 28th, Kwon appeared on Jeong's YouTube channel and shared details about their nearly 10-year connection and anecdotes that had not been disclosed before. During the conversation, Kwon spoke specifically for the first time about their clothing business, saying, "We used to run a clothing brand."

Although she did not disclose the brand name, she was honest about the business results. Kwon stated, "It failed miserably. At the time, we had about 500 items left in inventory."

Jeong explained that they eventually disposed of all the remaining stock by selling it at low prices.

The business process was much more serious than the two had anticipated. Jeong recalled that they personally traveled to Dongdaemun to inspect fabrics and brought T-shirts and hoodies from their own homes to check the design and fit by actually wearing them. They produced not only clothing but also hats, and Kwon revealed that she personally made the brand logo by hand.

Rather than a business where celebrities simply lend their names, the two were directly involved in the planning, design, and production processes. However, it was not easy to secure market demand with passion and effort alone. As sales failed to meet expectations, a significant amount of inventory remained, and the two eventually had to wind down the business.

Despite this, the two viewed the experience with surprising composure. Kwon said, "We've tried everything. We have that much loyalty. Even though the business failed together, we are still close to this day." Jeong added, "Usually, when a business fails, doesn't the relationship end? For us, it became even thicker."

Kwon emphasized that the business failure actually became an opportunity to understand each other better. She said, "Because of the business failure, we came to feel each other as more precious and special."

While it was a failure from the perspective of economic achievement, it meant that the density of their relationship increased as they shared risks and losses together as long-time friends.

In particular, Kwon brought laughter by revealing that she still keeps the clothing they produced back then. When Jeong asked, "Do you still have those clothes at home?", Kwon replied that she keeps them at home and said, "They are covered in a thick layer of dust." The clothes that were once the starting point of a new business have now become a sort of "keepsake" that reminds them of their trial and error.

Their connection dates back to their trainee days. Kwon and Jeong trained together at Woollim Entertainment before debuting as members of IZ*ONE and Lovelyz, respectively. Although their active groups and musical colors were different, they have maintained their friendship for a long time based on the bond built during their trainee days.

After her activities with IZ*ONE, Kwon transitioned into a solo singer and established her own position. In particular, through the summer music festival "WATERBOMB," her intense performances and healthy image were highlighted, earning her the nickname "Waterbomb Goddess." Recently, she has been expanding her reach to the public through broadcasting and variety shows in addition to her musical activities.

Jeong has also expanded her field as a solo singer and entertainer following her activities with Lovelyz. In the process of building her own color differently from the teamwork during group activities, her friendship with Kwon has also continued steadily.

Kwon has also garnered significant interest in economic aspects following her entertainment activities. In 2024, she drew attention regarding real estate investment when it was revealed that she purchased a detached house in Songjeong-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, for approximately 2.4 billion won. However, the clothing business she revealed this time is an experience almost opposite to such successful cases of asset formation.

This is also why this confession is interesting. Even celebrities, who are consumed by the public as images of successful stars, cannot escape the general market logic and the uncertainty of supply and demand in business. Especially in the fashion business, success or failure is difficult to guarantee with brand recognition alone, as complex variables like cost, production volume, inventory management, distribution networks, and consumer tastes all play a role.

In the case of Kwon and Jeong, the most notable aspect is their relationship following the failure. While the business itself was clearly not a success, having left behind 500 items of inventory, the two accepted the experience of shared losses not as a cause for friction, but as a way to confirm their mutual trust.

Ultimately, for the two, the business was more than just a failed brand. The time spent selecting fabrics in Dongdaemun, designing clothes, and clearing out unsold stock became a chapter of their long friendship. The business failure that Kwon described as "miserable" ultimately became one of their most enduringly successful memories.