In the month after Donald Trump won the election, about a dozen prominent fashion designers announced in various ways that they had no interest in being involved with the Trump family in any form. The fashion community was very pro-Hillary Clinton, and while Melania and Ivanka Trump didn’t personally stir a lot of debate, many American designers simply didn’t want to be associated with the name Trump whatsoever. But months went by, and guess what? Some designers are fine with dressing Melania in particular. Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and a few other designers have dressed Melania so far. And now, months later, Zac Posen is suddenly saying he won’t make clothes for her. Posen announced his decision to the Daily Beast in an interview about his latest collection. Some highlights:
How there was a high level of anti-Trump sentiment around NYFW: “I think everybody has a political responsibility. Everybody has a voice, whether in fashion or any field.”
He has previously dressed Ivanka and Melania: But he has “no current plans to dress members of the first family. Right now, I’m staying away from bringing my brand into politics. There are issues that are being questioned that are fundamentally upsetting to me—deeply: LGBT rights, immigration, funding for the arts, Planned Parenthood, and women’s rights. These are just issues that are very close to my heart, and I use my own private voice and funds to fight for them and in support of them. I think it’s important to use your voice. I think that every brand and person has a right to be vocal. I’m very upset with the state of affairs right now. I always try to be optimistic. I think that freedom will prevail. And I don’t dictate who buys my clothing in a store.”
He thinks people in fashion should be “cautious” about politicizing their labels: “You can’t market or commercialize feminism as an entity. One has to be careful. I aim to be about powerful women in my clothing. It’s important that I support the amazing women that I’m able to work with. It’s a message about creativity and process. And being able to self-create is the message I want to share to the generation of young people being born now.”
I don’t really have a problem with anything he says here. I think there’s some Johnny-Come-Lately about it, for sure, especially when there were designers coming forward in November and December, proudly taking a stand by refusing to dress the Trump women. I think Posen believes in what he believes – feminism, progressive ideals – but he’s also realistic about how getting too political could blow up in his face, or perhaps even worse, making some political statement could have little to no impact either way. Especially when Melania could just buy his clothes off the rack, you know? That being said, standing up and saying “this is unacceptable” is the baseline at this point. Don’t equivocate and try to be pragmatic. What’s happening is deplorable and we should all be brave enough to simply say that out loud.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
he’s a little passé tho
It is a tricky spot for designers. I mean, one can so easily buy something off the rack, and then is he supposed to denounce that purchase?
I think he meant he will not create original designs for Melania or Ivanka ptivately. They are free to purchase his designs off the rack if they choose to. I like kim more for his decision.
I appreciate what he said.
Yeah, did Michael kors really dress melania or did she buy her outfit? I remember reading that kellyanne bought her ugly Gucci coat and the Gucci brand tried to make it very clear that no one dressed her.