Which Designer Has Openly Refused To Dress Melania Trump?

The designer made her position clear in an open letter to WWD

To say there’s been controversy surrounding the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States is an understatement, and the latest blip on the celebratory radar happened overnight as one of the A-list’s go-to designers has voiced her refusal to dress the next First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump.

Sophie Theallet wrote an open later to her colleagues and the press, explaining the reason why she would not be dressing Melania during her husband’s time in office. “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. I encourage my fellow designers to do the same.”

It’s an interesting move from the designer, and she’s the first fashion figure to verbally distance herself from the soon-to-be White House occupants. It’s worth noting that on the campaign trail Melania wore a range of designers, including Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi, however Bazaar US reports that each of these items was bought and not borrowed. 

Theallet reiterated in her letter that her company’s values did not align with those of Mr Trump but that it went deeper than that. “As a family-owned company, our bottom line is not just about the money. We value our artistic freedom and always humbly seek to contribute to a more humane, conscious and ethical way to create in this world.” 

Given the exposure the First Lady has on an international stage, it’s an easy way for a designer to gain global publicity (as so many have with Michelle Obama) so only time will tell if anyone follows Sophie’s stance.