After designer Sophie Theallet made it clear that she would not be dressing the future First Lady Melania Trump, another major player in US fashion has been quick to distance himself from her comments.
As one of the first designers to discuss – and disagree with - Theallet’s statement, Tommy Hilfiger has said that anyone in the industry should ‘be proud’ to dress America’s new First Family, describing both Melania and Ivanka Trump as ‘beautiful’ and ‘smart’ women.
‘I think Melania is a very beautiful woman and I think any designer should be proud to dress her,’ he told Women’s Wear Daily at the Angel Ball in New York.
‘Ivanka is equally as beautiful and smart, although she wears her own clothes,’ he added, referring to the future First Daughter’s fashion line, which is available in many major department stores in the US.
‘I don’t think people should become political about it. Everyone was happy to dress Michelle [Obama] as well. I think they look great in the clothes. You’re not gonna get much more beautiful than Ivanka or Melania.’
Hilfiger’s comments come after French fashion designer Sophie Theallet, who has dressed Michelle Obama during her time in the White House, will not be working with the next First Lady.
In an open letter posted to her Instagram account, she wrote, ‘As an independent fashion brand, we consider our voice an expression of our artistic and philosophical ideas.’
‘As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating 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.’
Theallet ended her letter by encouraging her fellow designers to join her in her boycott, asserting that ‘integrity is our only true currency.’