Kim Kardashian ditches ‘Kimono’ and will relaunch her shapewear line with new name
- Reality star’s trademark attempt sparked swift backlash accusing her of cultural appropriation
- Critics included Kyoto’s mayor, who wrote letter to Kardashian asking her to reconsider
Kardashian was quickly accused of cultural appropriation of the name. In a Thursday statement to The New York Times, in which she defended her understanding and “deep respect” for the meaning of kimono in Japanese culture, she said she had no plans to change the name.
On Monday, though, she was singing a different tune.
“I am always listening, learning and growing – I so appreciate the passion and varied perspectives that people bring to me,” she wrote on Instagram.
Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa also specifically asked Kardashian to reconsider using the word kimono in her trademark.
Kim Kardashian’s ill-fitting trademark sparks ‘KimOhNo’ backlash
“We are currently undertaking initiatives nationally to make ‘Kimono Culture’, symbol of our culture and spirits, registered to Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
“We think that the names for ‘Kimono’ are the asset shared with all humanity who love Kimono and its culture therefore they should not be monopolised,” Kadokawa wrote before inviting Kardashian to visit the city and deepen her understanding.
On Monday, commenters were already suggesting names like sKim Wear or KimBody in response to her Instagram notice.
