380,000-Won Domestic Bag... First Lady Kim Geon-hee's 'Eco-Friendly' Choice Again

Bangmigil Bags, Domestic Vegan Brand Priced Around 300,000 Won
Made from Apple Seeds and Peels Left Over from Juice and Jam Production
Eco-Friendly Bags Gain Attention with Possible Policy Messages

The handbag carried by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol on his trip to the United States, has become a hot topic as it is known to be from a 'domestic vegan brand.'

According to industry sources on the 26th, the bag Kim wore when departing was the 'Hazel Bag' released in the spring-summer (SS) season last year by the domestic vegan fashion brand 'Marhen.J.'

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who is making a state visit to the United States, is greeting before boarding Air Force One at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 24th (left), and the 'Hazel Bag' from the domestic vegan fashion brand Marhen.J (right)
[Photo by the Presidential Office, provided by the company website]

Kim previously wore this bag during her visit to Japan last month. At that time, some speculated that she was carrying a luxury brand bag, but this was proven to be incorrect.

The company is a brand that uses plant-based materials, and the bag is said to be made using apple leather (apple leather). The retail price of the bag is 378,000 KRW.

According to the company, apple leather is an ultra-lightweight and eco-friendly material whose main ingredients are the seeds and peels of apples left over from making juice and jam. These are processed into powder form and dyed with eco-ink.

Every time First Lady Kim embarks on an overseas trip, she matches her outfit with a domestic brand bag. During her visit to Spain in June last year, she carried the 'Archive Wappen Eco Bag,' an eco bag sold at the Amorepacific Museum of Art, when she visited the Ecoalf upcycling store in the city.

First Lady Kim Keon-hee arrived at Zurich International Airport on January 17 for a tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland, and is heading to her vehicle.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Also, during the state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January this year, she wore the 'Beanie Mini Tote Bag' from the domestic upcycling fashion brand 'Halikey.' This bag is an upcycled product made from coffee sacks and vegan hanji leather material.

The characteristic of these bags is that they are eco-friendly products. Through this, there is an analysis that First Lady Kim is conveying a message about 'sustainable fashion.'

Meanwhile, First Lady Kim has recently showcased various public schedules, from visiting animal rights protection organizations to meeting families of abductees and foreign ministers. In this process, she has expressed messages on policy issues such as the 'ban on dog meat consumption.'