You might be wondering what’s been happening with Ivanka Trump’s fashion label ever since the First Daughter, became the White House Senior Advisor… Well, ICYMI, Ivanka actually hasn’t been involved with the brand since January 2017, and it’s been confirmed that the entire fashion company is being shut down!
Although it may come as a shock, we can’t say we’re too surprised. The more than a decade old label hasn’t been doing so well ever since the controversy of the Trump election. Many questioned its ethics in terms of its relationship with the White House and labour violations among subcontractors, not to mention the whole boycotting situation titled #GrabYourWallet.
This is people power at work. This is you using your voices and your hard earned money to push back on extremism. This is you saying no to the hate that the Trump administration embodies. You are #GrabYourWallet and this is your win.
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) July 24, 2018
Starting as a fine jewelry line in 2007, the Ivanka Trump brand later expanded into footwear, accessories, and ready-to-wear clothing within the $100 to $500 range. According to WWD, at one point the label was valued at $100 million, and was distributed by big name department stores like Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and The Bay.
Since then, the brand has been dropped by most retailers in huge part to the #GrabYourWallet movement. Essentially retailers carrying the label were blacklisted, and consumers were encouraged to boycott the brand. While department stores commented that the decision to phase out the brand wasn’t due to the controversy, and instead down to low sales, it definitely makes you wonder.
Not only were their whispers about the brand’s integrity due to its connection with the White House, but apparently the label already had ethical issues concerning its overseas manufacturers in China. In an article by Racked, workers at the company’s factories were quoted, saying that they were required to work 16-hour shifts, paid illegally low overtime rates, and regularly dealt with delayed payments. One worker even admitted that they quit after only three hours out of fear.
While ethics are definitely in question, no one can deny the plummeting sales; the Ivanka Trump label just isn’t that appealing anymore. The fine jewelry line was the first part of the business to officially shut down shortly after it was dropped by Neiman Marcus in 2017. Other major stores to drop the label around the same time were Nordstrom and most recently The Bay, while one employee at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls claimed they were instructed to dump Ivanka Trump signage in the garbage and distribute the collection inconspicuously throughout the store.
So what happens now? Vox reports that the remaining Ivanka Trump products will continue to be sold at stores like Lord & Taylor, Dillard’s, Bloomingdales, and Amazon, but that it will not renew any of its current licensing agreements. The Wall Street Journal also reports that all 18 of the label’s employees have been notified of its closure and will be laid off.
Although, while Ivanka has decided to cut all ties and close the business, it was also stated by Vox that her lawyers will still protect the name from exploitation. Even though the closure was explained as being a result of other reason, it’s hard not to think that the bad press, ethical issues, and #GrabYourWallet movement had nothing to do with it.
While the Ivanka Trump brand image certainly seems to have been eroded, apparently Trump still claims her separation from the brand isn’t due to its recent underwhelming performance, but rather her desire to remain in Washington D.C. indefinitely. The only thing anyone can 100 percent confirm, is that the Ivanka Trump brand is publicly stating an official farewell.
Sources: Vox, WWD, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Racked
Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Featured image: Instagram/ @ivankatrumphq
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