Check out this insanely long line of Russians waiting to buy Putin T-shirts

Russian President Vladimir Putin might be persona non grata in the West right now, but at home he has never been more popular. Or more fashionable.

As the Russian president’s approval rating soared above 80 percent — it's now a record 87 percent — local clothing brand Vse Putyom, or Everything is Cool, sought to capitalize on the Putin-mania by releasing a line of T-shirts featuring his image. 

As commercial decisions go, it was a brilliant call. The Putin T-shirts have been flying off the shelves since they were launched in June, with more than 5,000 sold in one day.

Check out the crowds in this video posted on YouTube.

Customers can choose from 15 prints, including Putin in military camouflage, Putin riding a horse and Putin wearing sunglasses. Some of the prints carry slogans such as “The Most Polite Man,” and “They’re Not Gonna Get Us.”

Our personal favorite is the one featuring Putin wearing a green floral shirt and holding a garish red cocktail under the words “Greetings from Crimea.”

Putin-loving Russians have been lining up for hours at one of Moscow’s most expensive department stores to buy the T-shirts, which cost $33 each.

One woman told the BBC: “I will travel with it as if I’m travelling with part of my motherland.”

It’s not just Russians buying the prints, either. Hollywood star Mickey Rourke, who has a Russian girlfriend, bought a Putin T-shirt during his recent visit to the Russian capital.

Was Rourke just trying to make a good impression on the potential in-laws? Nope, he really likes Putin. 

“If I didn’t like him I wouldn’t buy the T-shirt, believe me,” Rourke told reporters.

“I met him a couple of times and he was a real gentleman, very cool, regular guy, looked me right in the eye.”