In somewhat unsurprising news, Kim Kardashian has upset an entire nation after trying to reportedly trademark the name of her new shapewear line ‘Kimono’.
Kardashian has also been slammed for “cultural appropriation” as the word Kimono means “things to wear” in Japanese and is a type of traditional garment worn in Japan, typically by women.
The reality TV star and trainee lawyer described her new collection of skin tone-colored shapewear as “solutions for women that actually work”.
The new line, an obvious pun on her name, has drawn ire from the internet, with Twitter users taking to social media to accuse the reality star of being “arrogant” and calling the move to trademark it “vile”.
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 a word play on your name. Pls reconsider
— Yuko Kato (@yukokato1701) June 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/LatinaChic1337/status/1143823475313975296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1143823475313975296&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Ffashion%2Fpeople%2Fkim-kardashian-sports-mini-in-new-york-as-she-launches-new-shapewear-line-dubbed-kimono%2Fnews-story%2Fbece013bf5558db305bb478fa3869855
And, the fact Kardashian is trying to allegedly trademark the word for her new brand has upset the internet even more.
One user wrote: “Your underwear is very nice, but please do not register it as Kimono. Please do not monopolize our Japanese culture Kimono as your trademark.”
Another said: “Our culture is diluted by names of brands that don’t have anything to do with what the word actually represents,” adding, “And better yet, trademarking it? F NO.”
Naming your product/startup with Japanese words might seem hip and all, but it really sucks for us when our culture is diluted by names of brands that don't have anything to do with what the word actually represents.
And better yet, trademarking it? F NO.https://t.co/8pFaEGdXI2— yukaccy.eth (@yukaccy) June 25, 2019
This is my kimono.
Not your underwear.#kimonosheila#KimOhNo#kimono@KimKardashian pic.twitter.com/nOr2Sj0iIW— Sheila Cliffe (@kimonosheila) June 26, 2019
Kardashian has yet to respond to the backlash.
