Jeans from North Korea
Today, Sweden’s Noko Jeans is launching a line of designer denim manufactured in North Korea. The company claims that these are the first 1,100 pairs of jeans to ever be produced in North Korea. One of the founding partners, Rauden Kallstigen, explains the motivation behind their project to produce denim in the “Hermit Kingdom”: “‘It ...
Today, Sweden’s Noko Jeans is launching a line of designer denim manufactured in North Korea. The company claims that these are the first 1,100 pairs of jeans to ever be produced in North Korea.
One of the founding partners, Rauden Kallstigen, explains the motivation behind their project to produce denim in the “Hermit Kingdom”:
“‘It was a way for us to contact the country … Our interest for North Korea goes way back because it’s just a black spot on the map.”
Despite reservations of supporting the present regime of Kim Jong Il, the Swedes decided to pursue their fashion venture, which has been in the works since 2007. After downing an entire glass of Swedish vodka during a visit to North Korea, these three entreprenuers, with no international fashion or trade experience, and the North Koreans agreed: “There would be jeans.”
Noko Jeans are only available in black. The designers claim this is because “blue jeans” are stigmitized in North Korea due to their historic association with American culture. Regardless, jeans have been banned in North Korea for years, according to a recent Associated Press article, making it unlikely for North Koreans to enjoy the newest fashion craze.
Flickr/Cecilie
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