Kim Kardashian West has angered people in Japan with the launch of her new shapewear brand, Kimono Intimates.
The reality star said the label, launched on Tuesday, is inclusive and “celebrates and enhances the shape and curves of women”.
But Japanese people on social media have said the trademarked brand disrespects traditional clothing.
The kimono, a loose long-sleeved robe typically tied with a sash, dates back to 15th Century Japan.
Considered the national dress of Japan, it is now mostly worn during special occasions.
“We wear kimonos to celebrate health, growth of children, engagements, marriages, graduations, at funerals. It’s celebratory wear and passed on in families through the generations,” one Japanese woman, Yuka Ohishi, told the BBC.
“[This] shapewear doesn’t even resemble a kimono – she just chose a word that has Kim in it – there’s no respect to what the garment actually means in our culture.”
Kimono Solutionwear™. Coming Soon. https://t.co/s8DZ09pKxp. #KimonoBody
Photo by Vanessa Beecroft pic.twitter.com/X0q9YKOwKS
— KIMONO (@kimonobody) June 25, 2019
Wow, @KimKardashian.
Thanks for BUTCHERING Japanese culture!!! My culture is not your plaything.
You don't have any respect for people who are not your family, do you?
In the 15 yrs developing this project, couldn't you find a cultural advisor?#KimOhNo #culturalappropriation https://t.co/OsDYVZxPhx— 🍤kasumi🦄✨ (@kasumihrkw) June 26, 2019
Kardashian West trademarked the Kimono brand last year in the US. She has also filed trademarks for “Kimono Body”, “Kimono Intimates” and “Kimono World”.
The underwear, designed to create smooth lines under clothing, is available in several different colours.
Kardashian West said on Twitter that there were “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”.
Many people have taken issue with the fact she trademarked a word of huge cultural significance in Japanese culture. Others were annoyed that the traditional garment now shares the same name as an intimate wear brand.
Some have been tweeting with the hashtag #KimOhNo.
Others feared people might start to associate the kimono with Kardashian West, rather than Japan.
“I think Kim has so much influence on pop culture, I fear there will be people who only know the word kimono as her brand,” said Ms Ohishi.
“I imagine it will have an effect on search results, hashtags, if this brand becomes as powerful as her other ventures.”
The latest label by Kardashian West touts itself as a size and diversity inclusive brand, carrying sizes from XXS to 4XL. It’s also available in nine shades.
But one kimono expert said it was ironic that it identifies itself with a garment that is the opposite of shape wear.
