Taylor Swift quickly responds to allegations she stole Folklore logo from Black fashion designer

Taylor Swift’s team has been swift to respond to allegations that she copied the logo for her latest album Folklore from a Black-owned business called The Folklore after being made aware of the similarities between the two.On July 24, The Folklore owner Amira Rasool took to Instagram to call out Swift and her team for selling merchandise (including cardigans) baring a logo with a striking resemblance to the logo for Rasool's New York City-based multi-brand online concept store. According to its website, Rasool's store “features exclusive styles from Africa and the diaspora's top luxury and emerging fashion brands.”In her post, Rasool explained, “This morning it came to my attention that musician #TaylorSwift is selling merchandise to go along with her new album Folklore. She is currently selling merchandise with the words ‘The Folklore’ printed on them. Based on the similarities of the design, I believe the designer of the merch ripped off my company’s logo. I am sharing my story to bring light to the trend of large companies/celebrities copying the work of small minority-owned business owners. I am not going to let this blatant theft go unchecked.”

 

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This morning, it came to my attention that musician #TaylorSwift is selling merchandise to go along with her new album ‘Folklore’. She is currently selling merchandise with the words "The Folklore" printed on them. Based on the similarities of the design, I believe the designer of the merch ripped off my company's logo. I am sharing my story to bring light to the trend of large companies/celebrities copying the work of small minority-owned business owners. I am not going to let this blatant theft go unchecked. Please tag @diet_prada and @thefashionlaw under the post and share this on Twitter and IGz #TheRealFolklore #TheFolklore Original logo designed by @cainecasket

A post shared by Amira Rasool (@amirarasool) on Jul 24, 2020 at 9:17am PDT

In an interview with InStyle, Rasool further explained that at first she didn’t think much about Swift’s album name since “folklore” is a common word. But when a friend tipped her off to the logo similarities in the merchandise, she worried people would think she was copying Swift when her in-house line, that puts its own logo front-and-centre, launched. “Initially I was so shocked,” the 24-year-old, who launched the online store to amplify underrepresented African and African diaspora designers, told the publication. “I'd heard of so many different Black women in particular who had been ripped off by large corporations by celebrities. And I just couldn't believe that it was happening to me.”Swift’s team responded a few days later with a statement, according to Good Morning America. "Yesterday, we were made aware of a complaint that the specific use of the word 'the' before 'folklore album' on some of the Folklore album merchandise was of concern. Absolutely no merchandise using 'the' before the words 'folklore album' has been manufactured or sent out," the team said. “In good faith, we honoured her request and immediately notified everyone who had ordered merchandise with the word 'the' preceding 'folklore album' that they will now receive their order with the design change." Swift herself had not responded in any interviews, statements or on social media at time of press.The Folklore features more than 30 brands, artists and creatives, according to the InStyle piece. Aside from the online store, Rasool provides wholesale services to African brands looking to get into the global market. “It’s not just about The Folklore and my feelings personally being hurt, but this is damaging to our brand,” Rasool, who owns the active trademark for “The Folklore” on clothing, added in the article. “I had people who asked me, ‘Oh, did you collaborate with Taylor on these?’ They just assumed that it was a collaboration because of how similar the logos are.”

I commend Taylor’s team for recognizing the damage the merchandise caused to my company @TheFolklore’s brand. I recognize that she has been a strong advocate for women protecting their creative rights, so it was good to see her team is on the same page. https://t.co/8KR5IaYkIs

— Amira Rasool (@AmiraRasool) July 28, 2020

After the statement was released, Rasool updated her followers to reveal that she is currently in talks with Swift’s team about the necessary next steps. “Thank you for everyone’s support, I have read all of your messages and I truly appreciate them,’ she wrote on Instagram. “Taylor Swift’s team took a great first step by removing “the” from all of the merchandise. We are in conversation with her team about the necessary next steps to make this situation right.” That was followed by a Twitter exchange between Swift and Rasool on July 30 showing that things had been worked out amicably, with Taylor making a contribution to Rasool's company and a donation to the Black in Fashion Council.

Thank you, Taylor. Wishing you all the best. https://t.co/CdM5xUPZRK

— Amira Rasool (@AmiraRasool) July 30, 2020

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