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Kim Jong-un bans leather across North Korea after rip offs gain popularity

Kim Jong-un bans leather across North Korea as news of cheap leather being imported to manufacture jackets go viral

Kim Jong-un, the fashion-conscious tyrant of North Korea, was first spotted wearing his black trenchcoat in 2019 and was still wearing it until last week when he made his first public appearance after being absent from the public eyes for a month. According to North Korean observers, his month-long absence is the longest since 2011. This comes after news of his health surfaced earlier this year.

Kim's leather coat has now become famous in the Hermit Kingdom, where the ruler and his fashion choices are surrounded by a cult of personality. Because only the communist state's elite could afford actual leather coats, it was originally only the high-class elite who could copy their leader. However, North Korean garment designers began importing fake leather in order to manufacture local copies. The coats soon made its way to every North Korean mart and many young guys prancing around in them.

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That was enough for the leader to impose a ban on leather across North Korea in order to crack down Kim clones. According to Radio Free Asia, real fashion cops have been scouring the streets, confiscating the jackets from dealers. The ban, however, didn't go down well with those who purchased the coats.

“Young men protest, saying they bought the coats with their own money and there is no reason to take them away," an insider told the news agency. "The police respond to the complaints, saying that wearing clothes designed to look like the Highest Dignity’s is an ‘impure trend to challenge the authority of the Highest Dignity." The insider further added, “They instructed the public not to wear leather coats because it is part of the party’s directive to decide who can wear them.” 

The dictator's sister Kim Yo Jong, who is rumored to be his preferred successor, has also donned the leather trenchcoat. As a result, it is believed to have become a symbol for powerful women as well. It comes after Jong-un reportedly shaved his mullets and forbade the throwback hairdo, as well as slim jeans, as a dig at "Western decadence."

Take a look at some of the social media reactions to people being banned from sporting Kim Jong Un's fashion style.

Disclaimer: This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.