‘As Ever’ Clothing Shop and Others Meghan Markle Copied for Her Brand Change Fire Back at Duchess
After nearly a year of teasing products for her new lifestyle brand initially called American Riveria Orchard, Meghan Markle‘s application for the name was reportedly rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Therefore, the former Suits star had to come up with a new name. The problem is the new one she chose “As Ever,” is not original either.
In addition to the name change, Meghan ditched ARO’s previous logo swapping it out for what is very similar to one island’s coat of arms.
Here’s more on that and the reaction from those who the Duchess of Sussex is accused of plagiarizing.
Clothing store Meghan copied name from makes public statement
Shortly after Prince Harry’s wife announced the new name for her brand, social media lit up with followers informing her that the “As Ever” name was already taken as it is a New York-based clothing store. While there hasn’t been a response to that from the duchess, the store’s owner has responded.
Just like Meghan took to Instagram to announce the new name of her brand, the founder of the clothing company “As Ever” took to Instagram with his own message.
“I want to say thank you to all the old friends who know and love our small family brand As Ever and also say hi to all those that have just become aware we exist,” the post read. “In the last 36 hours there has been an outpouring of support and concern regarding recent events around our namesake brand. We are aware. We are not affiliated.”
The post was written by Mark Kolksi, who explained that his brand began as a passion project back in 2015 when he started reworking vintage military pieces before it evolved into a full-fledged clothing line in 2017.
He also hit back at Meghan who signed her post “As Ever, Meghan” by signing his: “We will continue As Ever, Mark Kolski.”
Kolski spoke to The Sun and admitted that he doesn’t own a trademark to the “As Ever” name but believes he has “common law rights” to continue selling clothing using “As Ever” just as he’s done for the last eight years.
He told the publication that he feels “powerless” to take any action in response to Meghan’s new rebrand but he is refusing to change his clothing brand’s name and “exploring all possibilities.”
“I’m a very small business, it’s a family-run operation,” Kolski said. “I’m essentially a one-man band. This new venture has the power and money of Netflix behind it. Even if I wanted to do something I don’t think I have the behemoth of lawyers and money that are behind this.”
The duchess also copied a logo that has upset residents of a Spanish island
But it’s not just the name of her brand. Meghan also allegedly copied the new logo for her brand. The palm tree in the center of two hummingbirds flying on the sides she used for As Ever’s logo is almost identical to a Majorcan town’s heraldic emblem.
The mayor of Porreres in Mallorca Francisca Mora has accused the former working royal of “plagiarism.” She talked to the local outlet El Pais and insisted: “It is a total copy.”
“To sue for plagiarism is complicated and costly, and a small town council like ours is not in a position to fight against the English crown,” Mora said per the Daily Mail. “I don’t know if she visited some agritourism sites and saw the coat of arms, because the photo on her website is taken from Mallorca … At first, we didn’t really understand where it had come from and what their objective was in copying our coat of arms.”
The mayor added: “We don’t like our coat of arms being used, we want them to pull the logo.”
