House of Fraser have been criticised by activists for selling a line of clothing bearing the logo of The President’s Club, a charity that was closed down last year after a misogyny scandal.
Back in 2018, two journalists went undercover at one of the charitable high-profile trust’s men-only dinners, and reported that hostesses and female waiting staff were groped and sexually harassed throughout.
The trust subsequently shut down after a petition for the President’s Club to be held to account for the harassment, and a number of MPs denounced the conduct at the event where many celebrities and politicians were present.
Now, the name has popped up again, after a clothing brand of the same name (and a remarkably similar logo) has appeared on the House of Fraser website.
Two months after the original scandal, Manchester based Martyn Warden trademarked the name President’s Club, and although he claimed at the time that the scandal was unrelated to his choice of name, it has still garnered criticism.
The new range features 67 items, with sportswear and fitted garments for men and women, most of which bear the logo. Under each logo, 2018 is written in Roman numerals.
Various entrepreneurs have voiced concerns about the brand, and some have criticised Mike Ashley, whose business Sports Direct is a parent company of House of Fraser.
‘As a business owner and mother of two daughters, I am surprised and disappointed that in this day and age, someone like Mike Ashley should seek to exploit misogynistic practices for commercial gain,” Sonal Keay, founder of fashion firm This Is Silk, told the BBC.
‘In an era where businesses are supposed to contribute positively towards all stakeholders, which includes wider society, it is an insulting move and I hope that his actions are condemned and ignored.’
As of yet, there has been no comment from House of Fraser or Sports Direct in relation to the claims, and the clothing is still on sale.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/28/anger-house-fraser-presidents-club-clothing-line-12138146/
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