Why Zac Posen Won’t Dress Ivanka Trump

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By Thea Glassman March 13, 2017

Don’t count on the Trumps wearing Zac Posen anytime soon.

The Jewish designer, who has lent his creations to both Ivanka and Melania Trump in the past, told The Daily Beast that he doesn’t have any upcoming plans to dress the first family.

“Right now, I’m staying away from bringing my brand into politics,” he explained. “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.”

Posen added that he believes everyone has a “political responsibility,” and should act accordingly.

The designer is just one in a slew of fashion industry heavy-hitters who have said they won’t dress the first family. Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim and Sophie Theallet have all objected to lending their designs, with Theallet citing President Trump’s “rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia” as explanation.

Other designers are remaining impartial.

“I think Melania is a very beautiful woman, and I think any designer should be proud to dress her,” Tommy Hilfiger said in November. “Ivanka [Trump] is equally as beautiful and smart, although she wears her own clothes. I don’t think people should become political about it.”

Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com

Thea Glassman was an associate editor for the Forward. Follow her on twitter @theakglassman.

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