Reality star Kim Kardashian West announced the launch of her new shapewear on Tuesday. She claims to have created the line because of her own personal struggles to find shapewear that suits her skin tone. The line comes in 9 different shades and ranges from sizes XXS-4XL.
https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1143505431391854594
I would always cut up my shapewear to make my own styles, and there have also been so many times I couldn’t find a shapeware color that blended with my skin tone so we needed a solution for all of this. #KimonoBody
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) June 25, 2019
However, Kim is being accused of cultural appropriation after the name of the shapewear was revealed: Kimono. The word kimono has a long history in Japan and has deep roots in Japanese culture as a garment worn by Japanese men and women from the Hakuhō period to present times. While Kim has claimed that the name is a play on her own, it is completely understandable why many are outraged and demanding that the name be changed, especially since media outlets have reported that the star plans to trademark the name.
Kim Kardashian filed for a bunch of trademarks on the word "kimono" (even for actual kimono), which, if granted, would allow her to ban Japanese companies from using the word "kimono" in America. Somebody call Cool Japan ASAP. 😱😱 https://t.co/1OpWPt2lYJ pic.twitter.com/ieCzKfpeLW
— Tokyo Fashion (@TokyoFashion) June 25, 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
— Yuko Kato (@yukokato1701) June 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/mr2k4tr/status/1143796155098132480
One is KIMONO. One is Kim shamelessly selling a line of shapewear. Which y’all don’t need. #kimono pic.twitter.com/RC3vuA4dd1
— Tamlyn Tomita (@thetamlyntomita) June 25, 2019
This is not the first time that the media personality has been accused of ripping off of other cultures. Mrs. Kardahsian West has been accused of appropriating black culture multiple times. In 2017, Kim faced accusations of blackface when promoting her makeup line. Fans noticed that the star looked suspiciously darker in a picture of her promoting some new makeup products.
Sacha_Wynters via Twitter
People took to Twitter to let her know that black skin isn’t a costume that she can put on and take off whenever she wants. Kim claimed that she was “super tanned” and didn’t mean to offend anyone.
The mother of four has also been called out in 2018 for wearing Fulani braids, a hairstyle that originated in Africa, and referring to them as “Bo Derek braids” and again earlier this year after wearing a traditional Indian headpiece to her husband’s “Sunday Service.”
Kim Kardashian West has yet to make a statement regarding the sensitive matter, but people are hoping that the star will have a change of heart and will change the name.
Featured Image via Instagram
