Ditching Melania: Will East London Follow Suit?

First Lady and former model Melania Trump faces a fashion crisis: top designers are refusing to dress her.

When Melania wore a blue Ralph Lauren cashmere dress with matching suede gloves to the Presidential Inauguration in January, it caused a backlash from fans of the brand, and the hashtag #BoycottRalphLauren started to trend online.

Various designers have now confirmed that they won’t go near the White House – or Trump Tower.

Sophie Thelleat, whose dresses have been worn by Michelle Obama, has said: “As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associate myself in any way with the next First Lady. The rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by her husband’s presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by.”

Marc Jacobs told WWD, “I have no interest whatsoever in dressing Melania Trump. Personally, I’d rather put my energy into helping out those who will be hurt by Trump and his supporters.” Tom Ford told The View, “I was asked to dress her [Melania] quite a few years ago and I declined; she’s not necessarily my image. Even had Hillary won she shouldn’t be wearing my clothes, they’re too expensive. They’re not artificially expensive, it’s how much it costs to make these things. I think the first lady has to relate to anybody.” Derek Lam was one of the young American designers that former FLOTUS  Michelle Obama helped to promote. He told WWD: “While I have incredible respect for our country’s political institutions, I find it challenging to be personally involved in dressing the new first lady. I would rather concentrate my energies on efforts towards a more just, honorable and a mutually respectful world. I don’t know Melania Trump personally, so I don’t wish my comments to seem I am prejudging her personal values, but I really don’t see myself getting involved with the Trump presidency.”

Christian Siriano told Access Hollywood: “It would be hard for anyone, especially for someone like myself, a young gay fashion designer, I can’t support a campaign where I might not have the same rights. I just got married. There’s lots of deep things that get into it … Hopefully things will be great.” Phillip Lim told WWD: “As a global brand, we are always looking to partner with individuals that we have authentic relationships with — ultimately, women and men that share similar set of values, desires and ideologies: inclusion, diversity, justice, consciousness, innovation…. With that said, we do not have a current relationship with Mrs. Trump and I don’t foresee a relationship developing under the Trump administration.” Timo Weiland spoke to The Cut saying, “I in no way want to support a lot of the changes that are happening and the appointments that have been made … I just, I can’t. I was 110 percent behind the other candidate for very, very specific reasons, was brokenhearted about the results, and am no less brokenhearted now than I was then. Voluntarily, I will not.”

 

Are you in the fashion industry? Would you answer the call if one of Trump’s people requested a fitting for Melania during the President’s planned state visit to the UK?

Is East London fashion, famous for its diversity, united against the new power couple from Washington? If so, how should we show it?