Japan is a country of starkly distinct seasons, and so the changeover from winter to spring is always one that people look forward to. And it’s not just the blooming of the cherry blossoms that signals the start of spring, but also the flowering of fashion, as people across the country cast off their heavy winter coats for lighter materials and brighter colors as the weather warms up.
However, mixed in among Uniqlo’s springtime lineup of gauzy blouses and short-sleeved shirts is one item that doesn’t quite embody the season’s atmosphere of liberating lightness and easygoing freedom.
The model above is wearing Uniqlo’s new Military Jacket, but while the chain has had past success selling bomber jackets, this design seems to be drawing from a different geopolitical tradition. Specifically, a number of online commenters in Japan think it looks like something someone living in a communist dictatorship would wear, though reactions, such as the ones below, seem split on whether it’s more evocative of China or North Korea’s version of the philosophy.
“A lot of people are saying it has a strong ‘People’s Communist Republic of China’ vibe, but it reminds me more of Kim Jong Il. I thought it must be a joke, but it turns out they’re really selling this.”
“They could probably boost sales by marketing it as a Kim Jong Il cosplay set.”
“Totally Mao Zedong.”
“I’d totally look like a North Korean dictator wearing this.”
“It really needs a cap with a red star to complete the ensemble.”
“That jacket better be manufactured in China.”
“It looks especially unusual seeing a Caucasian guy wearing this.”
Even those who weren’t commenting on the communism connection found things to criticize:
“It looks like a prison inmate’s uniform.”
“How many pockets do you need?”
“No way anyone is going to use all of them.”
“That looks so dorky.”
In all fairness, the Mao suit resemblance is especially strong since Uniqlo’s model is wearing the jacket in tandem with a pair of its baggy Easy Wide Fit Tapered Pants. Both the pant and jacket are offered in khaki, black, and navy.
The pants and jacket are sold separately, and it’s likely that a different choice of pants, or even a different color, would do a lot to lesson the “government-mandated fashion” aesthetic.
Ironically, neither item is particularly inexpensive, with the jacket costing 6,990 yen and the pants 3,990 yen, bringing the total cost of the proletariat package to 10,080 yen.
Despite the online snickering, Uniqlo’s online store itself has some positive reviews for the jacket, with one satisfied customer happy about how the loose-fitting cut allows him to wear thick, warm clothing such as a sweatshirt or parka underneath it. Whether or not the Military Jacket will be a hit at sakura parties and springtime hotspots, though, remains to be seen.
Sources: Kinisoku, Uniqlo, Twitter/#ユニクロ ミリタリージャケット
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
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-- Uniqlo introduces new international range of authentic and stylish Kabuki-inspired clothing
© SoraNews24
17 Comments
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kohakuebisu
I just hope no stylist of a Korean boy band sees it and decides to get them doing dance routines in front of a red flag. We'll never hear the end of it.
Luddite
A very ugly piece of clothing. Looks like one of those multi pocketed, dull coloured, sleeveless jackets much beloved by older Japanese men.
Dennis Du Mond
Like the jacket lots of pockets. The pants "NO"
David Varnes
It's obviously a cheap rip-off of the BDU style shirt used by many militaries, but without the rest of the ensemble, such as combat boots, or pants that are appropriate for 'military styling,' it does come off as Cultural Revolution Chic.
Mocheake
@philly1: If you know how the boys in this country think then you're sure to know that thoughts like those rarely enter their minds.
spinningplates
This is great! It should become the 'compulsory human leisure uniform' and then we can put those little surveillance robots everywhere....UTOPIA!!
Hello Kitty 321
@Pukey2
Yes, talk about cultural appropriation!
semperfi
.
totally UGLY!!!
Never been a 'fan' of Uniglo anyway - always felt their stuff was so proletarian
.
cleo
No.
Just, No.
seadog538
Ideal jacket for when I'm grouse shooting in Scotland!
Britlover
@Pukey2: LOL. And people are down voting you? WhoooooooSHH!
UK9393
Once purchased, be sure to pick up a rock breaking hammer from the hardware store. Or really big 80s sunglasses from a on its last legs "Boutique la Chic" on a shopping street.
philly1
Not the sort of get up you want to be seen in if you want to get lucky.
Pukey2
I love the simplicity of it all. Plus, I'm always in need of pockets.
“It looks especially unusual seeing a Caucasian guy wearing this.”
I know the feeling. I can never contain myself whenever I see a Japanese person wearing western clothes. It looks so strange.
Vince Black
I'm getting me one of these