Taylor Swift alters Folklore merchandise logo after getting called out by Black designer fashion label

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s team responded to accusations she stole the Folklore  merchandise logo from a designer. According to Fox News, in a statement issued to Good Morning America on Tuesday, 28 July, the 30-year-old singer’s representative responded to artist Amira Rasool’s accusations. “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 statement continued, “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.” Rasool later expressed gratitude on Twitter to Swift and her team for resolving the issue. She said, “I commend Taylor’s team for recognizing the damage the merchandise caused to my company’s brand. I recognise 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.” Check out her post here

The owner of The Folklore brand, a company that exclusively sells goods from Africa and the diaspora per its website, expressed her concerns that the ‘Love Story’ singer’s merch logo had striking similarities to her own. She tweeted on 24 July, “Wait hold up. Taylor Swift, it’s one thing to use the name “Folklore,” but we’re out here stealing Black women’s logos too?” “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,” she added on Instagram. After the issue was resolved the next day, Rasool told her thousands of followers that her lawyers were in communication with Taylor’s to determine the “necessary next steps to make this situation right.”