Only 6 Places Worldwide, Only in Cheongdam-dong, Korea... The Secret of Clothes Worn by Yoon and Kim Jong-un [Must-Have Items of Celebrities]①

Both North and South Korea Prefer British 'Scabal' Fabric
'Loro Piana' Loved by Both MB and Putin
'Brooks Brothers' Became the Outfit for the US Presidential Inauguration

Editor's NoteWorld-renowned figures such as heads of state, conglomerate leaders, and famous politicians attract global attention. Cameras constantly follow them, and many people observe the clothes and accessories they wear. Products used by these figures gain an image of being top-tier. Moreover, the items they wear often carry political symbolism. By observing the products used by corporate heads, one can even speculate on how the company might change in the future. We examine the products chosen by notable figures and their significance.

President Yoon Seok-yeol taking the oath at the inauguration ceremony in May 2022. The suit he wore at that time is known to be made from fabric by Scabal, a British luxury fabric brand. [Image source=Yonhap News]

This year, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's Mao suit once again drew worldwide media attention. A Chinese-Australian comedian, Howard X, who was cosplaying Kim's Mao suit, stormed a campaign rally for the Taiwanese presidential election.

On the 12th, Taiwan's Liberty Times reported that Howard X intruded into a Kuomintang rally and mocked the Kuomintang candidate before being arrested by the police. The Chinese-Australian influencer gained fame for his Kim Jong-un Mao suit cosplay.

Before the 2018 Singapore North Korea?U.S. summit, he entered Singapore and became a global celebrity for his Mao suit cosplay. Later, before the 2019 second North Korea?U.S. summit, he went to Vietnam, the summit venue, but was expelled by local police.

On the 12th, Howard X, a Chinese-Australian comedian cosplaying as Kim Jong-un, made a surprise appearance at a Kuomintang rally held in Taipei, Taiwan. He stormed the rally to criticize the pro-China candidate and was arrested by Taiwanese police.
[Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

Kim Jong-un's Mao suit is considered a high-end product. It is made from 'Scabal,' a British fabric known as one of the world's top three textiles.

British 'Scabal' Fabric Praised in Both Seoul and Pyongyang

In May 2022, the fabric of the suit worn by President Yoon Suk-yeol at his inauguration was also Scabal. Founded in 1938, Scabal's headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, but production takes place in Huddersfield, one of the UK's largest textile districts.

Since the 1970s, Scabal has gained fame as the fabric for suits worn by Hollywood stars. The suits worn by James Bond, the protagonist of the spy film 007, and Marlon Brando in The Godfather were made from Scabal fabric. Since then, it has become a preferred fabric brand among world leaders, including U.S. presidents.

Scabal has six direct stores worldwide. In Asia, there are only stores in Shanghai and Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. The Korean store opened in 2017.

Experts estimate that the Scabal fabric used in Kim Jong-un's Mao suit costs over 4 million KRW. Considering his estimated weight of 120?130 kg, a large amount of fabric was used.

The image shows Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, attending the North Korean National Mothers' Conference last December wearing an inminbok. The inminbok is known to be made from fabric by Scabal, a famous British luxury fabric brand.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Italian 'Loro Piana' Suits Loved by MB and Putin

The appearance of former President Lee Myung-bak wearing a Loro Piana suit when attending the Busan Development Strategy Forum held at Busan City Hall in July 2008 while serving as the Mayor of Seoul.
[Image source=Photo by Cheong Wa Dae Press Photographers]

Besides Scabal, another famous suit brand favored by national leaders is the Italian luxury menswear brand 'Loro Piana.' In South Korea, it is well known as the preferred suit brand of former President Lee Myung-bak.

In July 2008, while serving as Seoul mayor, Lee Myung-bak attended a Busan development strategy forum at Busan City Hall wearing a Loro Piana suit. The brand logo was caught on camera, sparking public discussion about Loro Piana.

Loro Piana was founded in 1924 by Pietro Loro Piana and operates 132 stores across Italy, the U.S., Europe, and Asia as a luxury brand.

The image shows Russian President Vladimir Putin receiving a report from the Russian Railways on the 12th. President Putin is known to favor suits and ties from high-end Italian men's fashion brands such as Loro Piana and Kiton.
[Image source=EPA·Yonhap News]

The figure credited with elevating Loro Piana to global fame is President Vladimir Putin.

In March 2022, amid the heavy casualties of the Ukraine war, President Putin appeared at an official event wearing a Loro Piana padded jacket worth over 20 million KRW, sparking controversy inside and outside Russia. At a time when over 100,000 Russian soldiers lacked basic equipment such as bulletproof vests and helmets, and military mothers' groups were strongly protesting, the leader faced criticism for wearing a luxury brand at the event.

'Brooks Brothers,' the Presidential Suit Symbol from Lincoln to Trump

In January 2017, former U.S. President Donald Trump held a parade on his inauguration day. Although he usually preferred suits from the Italian brand Brioni, former President Trump wore a Brooks Brothers suit in accordance with the tradition of U.S. presidents for the inauguration.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Loro Piana and Scabal reflect personal taste. In contrast, there is a country where presidents wear the same suit to their inauguration almost like a uniform: the United States. For over 200 years, U.S. presidents have worn suits from the American menswear brand 'Brooks Brothers' at their inaugurations.

Out of 46 U.S. presidents, including current President Joe Biden, 41 have worn Brooks Brothers suits at their inaugurations.

Donald Trump, known for favoring the Italian luxury brand Brioni, wore a Brooks Brothers suit at his 2017 inauguration.

It was customary for the president to wear Brooks Brothers and the first lady to wear Ralph Lauren suits at inaugurations. President Biden broke this tradition in 2021 by wearing a Ralph Lauren suit.

Founded in 1818, Brooks Brothers is a traditional American menswear brand headquartered in Manhattan, New York. So many presidents have favored this brand that it has become synonymous with the American president's suit.

This association began during the 1860s Civil War. Brooks Brothers produced uniforms for the Union Army.

The Brooks Brothers suit coat worn by Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, on his second inauguration day and the day he was assassinated in March 1865. The lining is embossed with the phrase "One Country, One Destiny." [Image source= Lincoln Memorial]

Moreover, Abraham Lincoln, president during the Civil War, played a decisive role in establishing Brooks Brothers as the presidential clothing brand. He wore Brooks Brothers suits and coats not only at his inauguration but also at the time of his assassination in April 1865.

The coat he wore when assassinated was custom-made for his second inauguration a month earlier. The lining was embroidered with the phrase 'One Country, One Destiny.' It is interpreted as a message to unify the divided United States after the Civil War.

Since then, numerous U.S. presidents have followed Lincoln's example by wearing Brooks Brothers suits to their inaugurations.