N. Korean youth drive surge in Chinese bag imports

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A woman walking in Pyongyang is seen holding a clutchbag. (Pyongyang Photography and Reporting Association)

Demand for Chinese-made bags has surged among North Koreans in their teens through 30s. The trend of choosing Chinese bags over domestic alternatives — which lack competitive quality and design — has spread from border regions to inland areas.

A Daily NK source in Ryanggang province said recently that young people increasingly seek “new types of Chinese bags” at markets in Hyesan and other areas.

“There are many different types of bags here, but young people are looking for something specific,” the source said. “They don’t buy even the Chinese bags that were imported before, calling them old-fashioned. Domestic bags are ignored by young people because of poor quality and design.”

Young North Koreans visiting bag stalls commonly ask: “Don’t you have small, stylish bags?” “Any newly released bags?” or “Don’t you have foreign-made ones?” The source said many young people seek imported bags with distinctly new styles.

Bag imports targeting young consumers have barely occurred this year. North Korean factories have produced various bags domestically, so merchants haven’t actively sought imported products.

In the past, bags imported from China were mostly standardized student or office bags for practical use. Now young people increasingly use bags as fashion accessories to express individuality and style, driving demand for new types of imported bags.

Wholesalers in Hyesan recently have received numerous product inquiries from merchants in inland areas including Pyongsong in South Pyongan province and Hamhung in South Hamgyong province. The source said surging demand for new imported bags represents a nationwide trend, not just a border region phenomenon.

Cultural influences drive fashion trends

The source attributed this trend to foreign cultural influences, saying it appears to stem from “bags brought by foreigners or new tastes formed through South Korean movies and dramas.”

Young consumers prefer imported bags priced between 100-300 yuan ($19,000-57,000 won), considered a reasonable price range. Demand drops significantly above 500 yuan ($96,000 won), while bags costing more than 1,000 yuan ($190,000 won) are traded only among the wealthy elite, the source explained.

“There’s demand for cheap yet stylish bags with new designs never seen before,” the source said.

North Korean importers currently obtain various bag photos from Chinese suppliers, show them to market merchants and some young people, gauge reactions and selectively import preferred products.

“New types of bags will arrive and hit the markets within a week at the earliest,” the source said. “Fashion trends change so fast that bag stall vendors say ‘it’s time to give way to young people’ and ‘when you get older, you have to switch to other businesses.’”

Meanwhile, state-run smuggling along the Hyesan border area has been suspended since mid-May, with Chinese goods now entering only through official customs channels.

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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: dailynk.com