On the one hand- we do need to take cultural appropriation and the feelings of other seriously. On the other hand.... “Tweeting a picture of herself as a bride, Misako Oi wrote: "This is #kimono I wore to my wedding. I'd like Kim to imagine how she'd feel if someone treated her wedding, prom or baptism dresses as lingerie.” Except this doesn’t really work considering that there are entire lines of lingerie themed after weeding, prom, etc dresses- not to mention those actual dresses which could qualify as lingerie (google search skimpy or see through wedding dresses yourself...) and on the subject of taking the sacred and tainting it through appropriation....
... what of shirts sold in Japan such as the one which simply repeats the phrase “chocolate fucking Jesus...” or the use of religious figures and iconography in anime and advertising? It’s a long list. I’m certainly not saying that two wrongs make a right or its right to dismiss another’s concerns because they’ve done similar- we should listen and consider the feelings of those who feel upset- but quotes like the one above show us that especially when dealing with other cultures we can’t simply “do unto others as we would have done to us...” since quite often things other cultures mind we wouldn’t mind at all and vice versa. Perhaps it’s best to do unto others as they would like done unto themselves- or to consider the phrase more broadly to mean simply to consider the feelings and perspectives of others and not to apply it in specific detail.
You’ve got to understand that those lingerie based on weddings and prom is based on Western weddings and prom. Western people have a very loose idea of cultural dos and donts, whereas eastern cultures have very strict adherance and respect for culture.
As for the trademark- she did in fact apply for a trade mark but not on the word kimono- on the word kimono written in a specific font used for her branding. An important distinction. When we think about how many things are branded with a word like “Tuxedo..” from cookies to characters like Tuxedo Sam- we can see how a company would want not to trademark a specific word- but to trade mark it as it applies to their brand to prevent “copy cats” that would try to fool people into confusing the products as being associated or the same. That’s the true purpose of copywriter law- to protect consumers and producers from confusion by not allowing a company with nothing to do with a product to use its branding or name in a way that would lead a person to believe they are getting something from another company.
@creativedragonbaby- yes. That’s exactly my point. The quote I posted from the young lady asking “how would you feel of someone made your wedding dress into lingerie...” illustrates the problem. Some individuals or cultures hold people like parents with huge respect while others- children will make fun of their own parents. So how YOU would feel if someone made fun of your parents isn’t important when someone tells you it upsets them when you make fun of their parents. How THEY feel is important there.
I would be surprised if there are not already kimono inspired lingerie items, what the real outrage here is, is that Kim K wants to trademark "Kimono".
That word does not belong to her and she should not delude herself into thinking that she has right to ownership of it.
That word does not belong to her and she should not delude herself into thinking that she has right to ownership of it.
Ok thanks @guest_ for clearing that up.