All Kardashians are known for their ever-growing empires and controversies. Kim is the latest in the family to be caught up in the drama.
Per the Los Angeles Times, Kim Kardashian has filed for trademarks of the word “Kimono” and related variants (Kimono Body, Kimono Intimates, Kimono World), all awaiting review. On Tuesday, June 25, she announced the launch of Kimono “solutionwear” with a message shouting out campaign photographer and Kanye West collaborator, Vanessa Beecroft. West designed the brand’s logo.
Finally I can share with you guys this project that I have been developing for the last year.
I’ve been passionate about this for 15 years.Kimono is my take on shapewear and solutions for women that actually work.
Photos by Vanessa Beecroft pic.twitter.com/YAACrRltX3
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 25, 2019
Saying that her latest creation is “a new approach” to the crafting of shapewear, Kardashian recalled the years she spent having to cut up shapewear to form her own styles, with limited color selection only adding to the difficulty that inspired the Kimono.
An official Kimono Instagram account, which has already racked up over 100,000 followers, offers an in-depth look into the line.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzIi3CFHaXb/
Since the announcement, many weren’t fond of the name choice, since kimono in the classical sense already exists as a traditional Japanese garment, one that’s also become a fashion staple in recent years favored by West himself and others in various incarnations.
BBC News Japanese editor Yuko Kato was an early critic of the line’s name and asked Kardashian to reconsider naming the “nice underwear” after the garment.
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
“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,” Kato tweeted in response to Kardashian. “Basically, what you’re doing is creating a line of underwear and calling them, ‘traditional Japanese garments.’ Is that what you’re aiming for?”
The criticism has inspired a well-punned hashtag, #KimOhNo, either making fun of Kardashian or making aware of the fact that kimono is already in use.
Kimono is not underwear.
It is Japanese traditional outfit.#kimono #KimOhNo pic.twitter.com/kdfbMr9geB— ぬえ (@yosinotennin) June 26, 2019
Kimono: has a centuries long rich history and is deeply embedded in the traditions and culture of a country.
Kim Kardashian: OMg It hAs mY nAmE iN iT!#Kimohno
— Kyla Hsia (@kylahsia) June 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/Ginji_GoldFish/status/1143682045903699969
Kardashian has yet to comment on the backlash of the name. There is no word yet on when the shapewear will be available, but the Kimono Instagram has been captioning their photos with “Coming Soon.”
