"I would like you to visit Kyoto, where many Japanese cultures including Kimono have been cherished"
Kim Kardashian West has dropped her ‘Kimono’ brand name after receiving pressure from the Kyoto mayor
Kim Kadashian West has dropped ‘Kimono’ as the name for her new brand after increasing pressure from critics including the Kyoto mayor.
Last week, Kardashian West was criticised for her naming her new shapewear brand ‘Kimono Intimates’, triggering the hashtag #KimOhNo.
Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa has since weighed in, writing an open letter to the American businesswoman, expressing his disapproval of the brand.
“I am writing this letter to convey our thoughts on Kimono and ask you to re-consider your decision of using the name Kimono in your trademark,” Kadokawa wrote. “Kimono is a traditional ethnic dress fostered in our rich nature and history with our predecessors’ tireless endeavors and studies, and it is a culture that has been cherished and passed down with care in our living.”
“Also, it is a fruit of craftsmanship and truly symbolizes sense of beauty, spirits and values of Japanese.”
Kardashian West has since announced that she will no longer be using ‘Kimono’ in her brand name. In a post on Instagram, she announced that the new brand will be called ‘Solutionwear’.
“When I announced the name of my shapewear line, I did so with the best intentions in mind,” Kardashian West wrote. “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.”