Following the outcry, Kim Kardashian gives up baptizing her lingerie range "Kimono"

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The American reality star has finally given up on baptizing her new brand of underwear after the name of traditional Japanese clothing.

"After careful consideration, I will be launching my sculpting underwear brand under a new name," Kim Kardashian told her Instagram account's 142 million followers on Monday. "I'm always listening, learning and growing - so I appreciate the passion and the different perspectives that people bring to me," she explained, claiming to have had "the best intentions" in launching its range.

The raging detractors were saying #KimOhNo

The wife of rapper Kanye West, who has created her own brand of beauty products, perfume and clothing, unveiled her new line of sculpting underwear called "Kimono" on Instagram last week, according to her a game of words on his first name. But the American reality star quickly sparked a storm on social media, with some netizens accusing her of denigrating traditional Japanese basic clothing and others lambasting her for cultural appropriation. On Twitter, the debate raged with the hashtag "#KimOhNo".

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The mayor of Kyoto did not like the wink

The mayor of Kyoto, Daisaku Kadokawa, had written at the end of last week to the star to ask him to reconsider his choice of name. "(I) ask you to reconsider your decision to use the name Kimono for your brand," he wrote in his missive written in English. "The Kimono is a traditional dress shaped by the riches of our history and our nature," he continued, inviting her to visit his city to learn about the culture of the kimono. "We are concerned about spreading a misunderstanding of what kimono is due to Ms. Kardashian's power of influence," said Mai Sakai, traditional arts officer for the city of Kyoto.

The star had defended himself from wanting to imitate the kimono

The term "kimono" literally means "something that one wears". Kim Kardashian, who makes it a pun on her first name, told the American daily New York Times (in English) that she had no intention of producing clothes that "would look in any way like the clothes traditional or dishonor it".

Formerly the basis of the Japanese wardrobe, the kimono is now often reserved for special occasions such as weddings and especially worn by women. This fancy dress can cost astronomical sums and has a reputation for being difficult to wear.

Controversies over cultural appropriation are on the rise

The fashion world is regularly rocked by controversies over cultural appropriation. Recently, the Mexican government protested the use of ethnic textile patterns by New York fashion house Carolina Herrera for its Resort 2020 collection.

These examples are the latest in a series of controversies. Four years ago, another indigenous Mexican community attacked French designer Isabel Marant for borrowing the design of the 600-year-old Tlahuitoltepec community blouse. Previously, Mexico had protested against certain patterns used by Zara, Mango or Michael Kors.

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