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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
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Bowing to pressure, Kim Kardashian will change the name of her Kimono Solutionwear line, presumably to something less controversial, the reality star-turned-entrepreneur announced on Monday morning.
“When I announced the name of my shapewear line, I did so with the best intentions in mind,” Kardashian said on social media. “My brands and products are built with inclusivity and diversity at their core and after careful thought and consideration, I will be launching my Solutionwear brand under a new name.”
The announcement pointedly left out the hot-button word that set off the controversy last week: Kimono, which Kardashian had applied to trademark in various permutations. She did praise “the direct line of communication with my fans and the public”, which apparently has been on fire since she launched the line on Tuesday.
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.
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