Heavily criticized for her new shapewear line's moniker, the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star assures fans she has 'deep respect for the significance of the kimono in Japanese culture.'
- Jun 28, 2019
AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian has addressed backlash from fans over her Kimono shapewear line, insisting she picked the moniker as a "nod to the beauty and detail that goes into a garment".
The reality star revealed Kimono Solutionwear, a collection of skin-tone coloured control underwear, in an Instagram post on Tuesday, June 25, and was quickly inundated with messages from her fans, who questioned the name and accused the mother-of-four of culture appropriation.
"I did not have my boobs flattened by 2 obaasan (grandmothers) so I wouldn't be showing ANY curves for you to name your SHAPEWEAR Kimono. The effing irony and disrespect! Stop appropriating cultures for your capitalistic gain!" one wrote, while another added: "Wow, @KimKardashian. Thanks for BUTCHERING Japanese culture!!! My culture is not your plaything."
Now Kim has responded to the criticism by releasing a statement to The New York Times, in which she insisted she meant the name to pay tribute to the traditional Japanese garment.
"I understand and have deep respect for the significance of the kimono in Japanese culture and have no plans to design or release any garments that would in any way resemble or dishonour the traditional garment," she said. "I made the decision to name my company Kimono, not to disassociate the word from its Japanese roots but as a nod to the beauty and detail that goes into a garment.
"Filing a trademark is a source identifier that will allow me to use the word for my shapewear and intimates line but does not preclude or restrict anyone, in this instance, from making kimonos or using the word kimono in reference to the traditional garment. My solutionwear brand is built with inclusivity and diversity at its core and I'm incredibly proud of what's to come."
