The power that the Duchess of Cambridge wields over the fashion industry is undeniable. Not only have her outfit choices prompted a whole host of copy-cat styles all over the high-street, but this week Issa, the designer of that navy blue dress worn by Kate for the official engagement announcement, explained how the interest and demand almost bankrupted the label.
Issa chairwoman Camilla Al Fayed told Vogue, “It absolutely sky-rocketed the brand on a global scale, but it was too much. Demand was so huge the business couldn’t cope. If Kate wears a Zara dress, these huge companies have the backing to follow through. Issa was basically run by interns, students, and Daniella [Helayel, the label’s founder and designer]. There was no business model.”
And now it appears that the Duchess of Cambridge, has followed in Cara Delevingne’s footsteps, having applied to the Intellectual Property Office to trademark ‘ a wide range of goods and services’.
Whilst the news had us pretty damn excited about a potential Kate Middleton fashion line, sadly that doesn’t appear to be the case, with Kate having no ‘immediate plans’ to break into the design world. Instead, the Duchess has trademarked her royal title for more charitable means.
The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, originally founded in September 2010, has changed its name post the royal marriage with the new name and logo being registered ‘in different territories around the world,’ said a spokesman for St James’ Palace.
‘As part of that process, we have to choose any categories under which we might conceivably operate in the future. This also protects the foundation against other people using its name illegally. We included clothing in case we choose, for example, to make T-shirts in years to come, for marathon runners, etc.’
So no, K-Mid slogan tees, waist-cinching dresses or beige round-toed pumps on the horizon. Sadly.