Japan’s trade minister says the kimono belongs to Japan — not to Kim Kardashian West’s shapeware brand.
West announced the line, Kimono Solutionwear, last week. But some Japanese critics on social media said the name, which the reality TV star, makeup mogul and budding lawyer trademarked, is an inappropriate take on centuries-old kimono clothing.
On Monday, West tweeted that she’ll launch her brand under a new name following careful thought and consideration.
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. I will be in touch soon. Thank you for your understanding and support always.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 1, 2019
Japan’s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, said Tuesday that the kimono is part of Japan’s cultural pride and is highly recognized globally, including in the US, as “a Japanese thing.”
He said he’ll dispatch senior officials to Washington next week to urge US trademark officials to “appropriately” handle the case.
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