Fashion industry cosying up to new president over fears his ire – and tariffs – could snip profits, critics claim
Donald Trump’s second presidency has sent shockwaves across industries since Monday – and fashion is no different. If, on the surface at least, the culture around fashion tends to skew centre left, this is is also ultimately a business about making money, and that means keeping the powerful onside.
Major players showed their true colours last week. Among the tech billionaires and surprise celebrities at Trump’s inauguration was Bernard Arnault, the CEO of fashion conglomerate LVMH, with two of his children, Delphine and Alexandre. Trump’s daughter Ivanka, meanwhile, wore LVMH brand Dior, while Usha Vance (wife of JD) went for Oscar de la Renta. Though new first lady Melania wore relatively unknown designer Adam Lippes, her stylist Hervé Pierre told Women’s Wear Daily that more brands are now keen to dress her for the publicity, compared with the last time she was in the White House.
