Singer Kwon Eun-bi and Jung Ye-in, a member of the group Lovelyz, have candidly shared their past entrepreneurial struggles, revealing a joint venture that ended in significant failure. The surprising confessions were made during a recent YouTube broadcast.
A Shared Business Endeavor
The revelation came to light on Jung Ye-in’s YouTube channel in a video titled “Came to promote the new song but just ended up spilling the real tea.” Kwon Eun-bi appeared as a guest on the segment, reminiscing with Jung Ye-in about their shared history. Both artists were previously under the same management agency, Woollim Entertainment, fostering a close bond that extended beyond their professional lives.
During the conversation, Jung Ye-in broached the subject of their past business project. “Can I talk about this now? Our clothing brand…” she began, piquing interest. Kwon Eun-bi immediately confirmed the venture, stating, “Ah, right. We also did a clothing brand. I can’t say the exact brand name, but we did a business together.” She did not mince words about the outcome, admitting, “It was a complete failure.”
The “Disastrous” Clothing Line
Jung Ye-in elaborated on the nature of their failed business, explaining, “We just made expensive t-shirts.” Kwon Eun-bi added a detail about the unsold inventory, estimating, “I think there were about 500 items left in stock.” The experience left a lasting impression, with Jung Ye-in recalling how they managed to sell off the remaining stock, albeit at a significant loss.
Despite the financial setback, the shared experience appears to have strengthened their friendship. Kwon Eun-bi reflected on their journey, saying, “We really haven’t tried anything we haven’t done. We were so full of ambition back then. Even though the business failed together, we’re still close now.” Jung Ye-in echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the unusual nature of their continued closeness. “We’re still this close. Normally, when people go into business together and it fails, their relationship ends there, doesn’t it? But ours only got deeper,” she stated.
Lessons Learned and Enduring Friendship
Kwon Eun-bi suggested that the failure itself fostered a deeper appreciation for each other. “Because of that failure, we came to feel more precious and special about each other,” she mused, looking back at their ambitious past. Jung Ye-in provided more specific details about their collaborative process, recalling their trips to Dongdaemun, a well-known fashion district in Seoul.
“We used to go to Dongdaemun together, look at fabrics, and bring t-shirts and hoodies from our own homes. We’d try them on to check the fit. We even did hats, didn’t we?” Jung Ye-in recounted. Kwon Eun-bi then shared a touching detail about the brand’s logo, revealing, “I actually made that logo by hand.”
Jung Ye-in confirmed the collaborative effort behind the logo’s design. “We all gathered, drew pictures, and decided on the logo that Eun-bi drew. That’s the logo that ended up being used,” she said. She then inquired about the existence of any of the clothing items, asking, “Do you still have any of those clothes?” Kwon Eun-bi responded with a definitive “No.”
Jung Ye-in then revealed that she still possesses one of the items. “It’s at my house. It’s hanging in my closet,” she disclosed. “It’s completely covered in dust, still hanging on the hanger, that t-shirt.” Kwon Eun-bi added that fans might eventually get to see it, remarking, “Maybe someday fans will ask us to take a picture of it and show them,” further fueling curiosity about the long-lost fashion venture.
The story highlights not only the challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry but also the resilience of genuine friendships that can withstand business failures and emerge even stronger.
