Grab Your Wallet Social Media Campaign Aims at Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump appears at the Republican National Convention is a dress from her own clothing line.

If you’ve been watching the debates and reading the news, then you know that it’s been highlighted a few times that Trump industries does much of their manufacturing in China.  Trump ties comes from China and the Ivanka Trump fashion line is manufactured in China.  A recent article on Racked highlighted that long hours and low wages are the norm for workers making Ivanka Trump shows in China. That’s not really a surprise is it ? Offshoring is a money saving, profit raising proposition for many American companies, but it hurts American workers by taking jobs outside the US.

Now a consumer watch dog grassroots, social media  campaign spearheaded by digital strategist Shannon Coulter has kicked off on Twitter urging consumers to boycott the Ivanka Trump fashion line.  Follow the hashtag #Grabyourwallet and you can see the call to boycott the made in China/Indonesia  Trump fashions at Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s and other leading retailers.   The boycott calls out Ms. Trump for backing her father, despite his sexist remarks. “If Ivanka Trump had distanced herself from the campaign I would not be boycotting her. But something changed for me when that tape was released,” says Ms. Coulter.  The campaign is also highlighting the fact that the Trump merchandise is made outside the US.  Retailers like Nordstrom may have to rethink carrying Ivanka Trump if they are going to lose business over it.

A side by side comparison of Aquazzura’s Wild Thing Sandal with Ivanka Trump’s Hettie Heals

But there are bigger issues at play here. There’s the issue of  manufacturing goods outside of the US to poorly paid, and seemingly poorly treated workers, but also the issue of Ivanka Trump’s fashions being very similar to apparel and accessories from other designers.  For example, shoe brand Aquazzura’s  is suing Ms. Trump because their Wild Thing Sandals are almost identical to Ivanka Trump’s Hettie Heals.  On a recent trip to Nordstrom, I was shocked to see how close an Ivanka Trump dress was in design to a dress made by an American designer also carried at Nordstrom.  There are some real intellectual property issues here.

It will be interesting to see how the #GrabyourWallet Campaign goes and if retailers will listen to consumers and drop Ivanka Trump before the big holiday buying season. This protest couldn’t come at a worst time for the Trumps as it’s not just pre-election it’s pre-Black Friday.