Kim Kardashian West renames shapewear line after enormous backlash


Kim Kardashian West recently announced a new shapewear line seemingly named after herself but many online were quick to bring up the fact that it shared the same name as a traditional Japanese garment, a Kimono.
Kim stated in her original comments that she had no intention of changing the brands name and that the name of the shapewear is to represent inclusivity and diversity and that careful thought had been put into the consideration of the name. Kardashian West then went on to say that after more consideration she had decided to rename the brand in order to not offend anyone. But what really changed her mind?
After posting the images online to twitter and Instagram, the images that included herself and many women of different cultures, ages and sizes, people were quick to respond. Many users including the BBC news Japanese editor Yuko Kato expressed their disappointment and offence to the shapewear name.
“Nice underwear, but as a Japanese woman who loves to wear our traditional dress, Kimono, I find the naming of your products baffling (since it has no resemblance to kimono), if not outright culturally offensive, especially if it’s merely word play on your name. Pls reconsider.”
After Backlash online, Kardashian West spoke to the New York Times to explain herself. She explained that the Name of the brand was meant to be “a nod to the beauty and detail that goes into a garment.”
But Backlash continued after those that were offended by the post found out about Kardashian Wests plans to trademark the name. Soon after a change.org petition was created which reads:
“Kim Kardashian West filed trademarks for “Kimono body”, “kimono intimates” and “kimono world”. She has trademarked a word of huge cultural significance in Japanese culture.
As a Japanese person, I wear a kimono every day, and I do not wish to share the word with an underwear brand. “Kimono” means “clothing” in Japanese.
This is our culture, and I would like to show how many of us do not appreciate this!
Please sign this petition and together, we will take action to change this horrible cultural disrespect.”
The petition gained over 127 000 signatures since being published and serves as just one of the many complaints on social media.
After recently releasing the shapewear line under a new name, “SKIMS”, Kardashian West made a baffling two million dollars within mere minutes of her shapewear release online, but at what cost? The amount of disrespect that the original name caused many Japanese people was astounding. It just proves that no matter the intention of someone, whether they are meant to be purposely harmful or not, can blow up on social media. Social media now gives people the power to speak out on these issues and in this instance I agree with the statements made against the Kimono brand name. I do agree that the name of the original garment was not thought out well enough and that the people who spoke out about their offence to the name were within their rights to do so.  

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