Let’s Talk About Boycotting Brands over Political Donations

This past week, several folks sent me the same exact Reel or TikTok of a woman sharing a list of brands to boycott over major political donations. The video and its list made it to Reddit and other message boards and online groups. Some of those brands are retailers that many of us wear and use (and some I have partnered with at some point in my 20 years of blogging).

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Let's Talk About Boycotting Brands over Political Donations

I am all about voting with your wallet. Over the years, I have worked with brands, researched brands, and stopped promoting said brands due to their political, ethical, or religious leanings. I find they fund Scientology with the profits, they donate huge amounts to PACs supporting extreme political candidates or measures, they refuse to offer DEI training, they don't use models or influencers of color, etc. I am constantly learning and with it, changing my business and my personal purchases.

Don't Trust a Single TikTok

But with this research, I have learned a lot of “facts” about brands are in fact, incorrect. And I found some of the inaccuracies in this video going around social media regarding brands that donated “bigly” to the individual being sworn in as president next year, and PACs that support an 800-page project that will destroy our country as we know it.

Should We Be Boycotting These Fashion Retailers?

The video I am mentioning has been spread to Reddit, Facebook, Threads, and more, and it lists dozens of companies. There are a lot of known supporters like Hobby Lobby and AutoZone, but several that surprised me and I found to be untrue.

I want to share what I have learned about four fashion retailers mentioned in this video that supposedly donated big bucks to Trump and/or PACs supporting Project 2025: L.L.Bean, Soma Intimates, Urban Outfitters, Inc. (which includes Anthropologie, Free People, Nuuly, etc.), and TJX (which includes Marshalls, T.J.Maxx, TK Maxx, HomeGoods, etc.).

The information may surprise you, and may change your shopping habits and your future sources for news.

Should We Boycott L.L.Bean?

Back in 2017, Trump tweeted his thanks to Linda Bean for her generous donation to his presidential campaign. This led to several people announcing they would boycott L.L. Bean, including a push from Grab Your Wallet. As a lifelong fan of the retailer, I did some digging and the answer requires some history and for you, the consumer, to make your own decisions based on these facts.

Who is Linda Bean of L.L.Bean?

Linda Bean is the granddaughter of Leon Leonwood Bean, the founder of L.L.Bean. She died March 23, 2024 at the age of 82. As one of about 30 heirs to the L.L.Bean company, she sat on the board of the privately owned company until her passing.

Linda Bean is famous for her conservative, right-wing views, often finding Republican politicians too moderate. She ran twice for Congress, in 1988 and 1992, both times she lost. She served as the vice chairman of the Phyllis Schlafly-founded conservative group Eagle Forum and the Southern Poverty Law Center stated Linda Bean was a member of the Council for National Policy. She donated tens of thousands to Trump and PACs that support conservative and radical right-wing organizations.

L.L.Bean has always been a family company and is still privately owned. When L.L. passed in 1967, his grandson, Leon, took over. In 2001, Leon decided to become chairman, and a non-relative was made CEO for the first time. In 2015, Stephen Smith (another non-relative) took over as CEO and remains in that position.

Did L.L.Bean Support Linda Bean?

In 2017, when Grab Your Wallet and several other organizations encouraged a boycott of L.L.Bean due to Linda Bean's donations, Shawn Gorman, the Executive Chairman, spoke out. You can find his message at this Facebook link which I recommend to those with screen readers and reduced vision, but I also have a screenshot of it below for those who want the deets and to scroll on:

If you search L.L.Bean on Open Secrets, a site that makes political donations of individuals and corporations transparent, you will find that the company has never made a political donation. However, you can find the donation history of the organization's individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate family members. And based on these totals, L.L.Bean is pretty darn blue.

That being said, L.L.Bean Executive Shawn Gorman has made donations to Republican candidates (the last presidential candidate was Mitt Romney) and the Maine RNC and L.L.Bean CEO Stephen Smith has no record of making political donations. So, do with this as you wish. Personally, this is not enough for me to boycott L.L.Bean, but I encourage you to spend your money where you feel most comfortable.

Should We Boycott Soma Intimates?

When I heard Soma Intimates mentioned in this video, it inspired me to write this post. I have worked with Soma over the years, have visited their headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida, and know they are under the Chico's FAS umbrella, which has undergone some serious change in the past year.

Tell Me About Soma and Chico's FAS

In 1983, Marvin and Helene Gralnick opened Chico’s Folk Art Specialties (FAS) on Sanibel Island, Florida. The store was named after Helene's friend's pet parrot. The store was successful, with the first franchise store opening in 1987, and the company went public in 1993. One of the early adopters of online shopping, Chico's launched their shopping site in 1999.

In 2003, Chico's bought White House Black Market (individual stores I remember shopping in downtown Annapolis, Maryland). In 2004, Chico's launched Soma, an intimate apparel boutique that has grown to over 250 boutiques and an online shopping site.

In September 2023, talks began to have Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm, buy Chico's FAS. At the beginning of 2024, this purchase was completed for around $1 billion.

Tell Me About Sycamore Partners, Who Now Owns Soma, Chico's, and White House Black Market

Sycamore Partners is a New York-based private equity firm founded in 2011 by Stefan Kaluzny and Peter Morrow. Sycamore Partners owns so many retailers you know and love that it will blow your mind. We're talking Lane Bryant, Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Stuart Weitzman, Belk, Kurt Geiger… I could go on.

Talbots has been with Sycamore Partners since 2012, and in 2020, when Ascena Retail Group filed for bankruptcy, Sycamore Partners purchased Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lou & Grey, and Lane Bryant from them.

In 2023, Sycamore Partners created KnitWell Group, a holding company that covers Ann Taylor, Talbots, and LOFT. When Sycamore Partners acquired Chico's FAS, they added Soma, Chico's, and White House Black Market to the KnitWell Group. Lizanne Kindler, CEO of Talbots since 2012, now leads KnitWell Group as executive chair and CEO.

With all this going on, it raised a red flag to me that only Soma Intimates would be called out for being a major donor to Trump and/or related PACs. So I headed to Open Secrets and this is what I found out:

• Chico's FAS as a company did not donate, but its employees did, and they were primarily donating blue. Soma Intimates doesn't show up as a separate donor.
• Maybe they were confused with SoMa Equity Partners, but that organization also donated to Democrats.
• Neither Sycamore Partners nor KnitWell Group show up as political donors.
• Stefan Kaluzny of Sycamore Partners has primarily donated to Chuck Schumer and Tim Scott (source). Peter Morrow also seems to be a fan of Chuck Schumer (source). Lizanne Kindler of KnitWell Group has no donation record.
• Molly Langenstein was the Chico's FAS Chief Executive Officer and President before the buyout. I looked Langenstein up on Open Secrets, and it looks like in 2016, there was a $1,500 donation to a PAC.

If someone has information I couldn't find to show that Soma Intimates truly did donate “bigly” to Trump and/or a PAC supporting Project 2025 please share it in the comments and I will update this post accordingly.

Should We Boycott Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie?

Free People and Anthropologie were mentioned in this video about companies that supported Trump and/or Project 2025. I know that these two retailers, along with Urban Outfitters, Nuuly, BHLDN, and a few other brands, are all one company called Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN). I wanted to know if it made significant donations.

Tell Me About Urban Outfitters, Inc.

Richard Hayne, Judy Wicks, and Scott Belair were classmates at the University of Pennsylvania in 1970. As part of a class project, they opened a retail store in Philadelphia called Free People. In 1976, now with two storefronts, Free People was incorporated and renamed Urban Outfitters.

In 1992, the first Anthropologie store opened, specifically catered to “creative, educated and affluent 30-45 year-old women.” (Source). Ten years later, the first Free People store was opened in Paramus, New Jersey. Nuuly clothing rental started in 2019 and now URBN has over 700 locations worldwide.

URBN went public in 1993 and trades on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker URBN. Co-founder Richard “Dick” Hayne is still the CEO of Urban Outfitters, Inc. as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors and President and owns 19.9% of the company. Hayne ranked #1818 on the 2019 Forbes' Billionaires list.

URBN and Richard Hayne have caught a LOT of heat over the years for ripping off the work of small businesses and artists, not disclosing manufacturing practices, selling products that were anti-trans, pro-eating disorders, and pulling products that were pro-gay marriage. And CEO Richard Hayne of previously Philly and now Coatesville, Pennsylvania, donates a heckuva lot to Republican politicians and PACs, including famously supporting Rick Santorum. (source)

And while Urban Outfitters, Inc. was quoted as saying the company “respects the viewpoints of all customers and employees and does not take positions in electoral politics,” (source) actions speak otherwise. This claim is true, but the video shouldn't have just mentioned Free People and Anthro, but the entire Urban Outfitters, Inc. company.

Should We Boycott T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods?

I was especially curious about the mention of Marshall's and HomeGoods in this video, which are under The TJX Companies, Inc. umbrella. I just partnered with T.J.Maxx last November and have been a shopper there since high school.

Tell Me About The TJX Companies, Inc.

Are you ready for a retail blast from the past? In 1977, the first TJ Maxx store opened as part of the discount department store chain Zayre. In June 1987, Zayre established The TJX Companies as a subsidiary. 

In October 1988, Zayre Corp. decided to focus its energies on TJX and sold the entire chain of nearly 400 Zayre stores to Ames Department Stores. In June 1989, Zayre Corp. acquired the outstanding minority interest in TJX and merged with the subsidiary. It changed its name from Zayre Corp. to The TJX Companies, Inc. and began trading publically.

TJX has stores across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, owning T.J.Maxx, TK Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Homesense, Sierra, and Winners, and previously owned A.J. Wright, Familia, Bob's Stores, Trade Secret, Home Secret, The Maxx, StyleSense, and even BJ's Wholesale Club.

Per TJX's Statement on Political Activity and Expenditures, “TJX has a policy against using corporate funds to make contributions to political parties or candidates, whether federal, state or local… or for communications to support or oppose specific political candidates. TJX does not have a company-sponsored Political Action Committee.” Per the American Democracy Scorecard, TJX gets a B.

If you look at employees' donations on Open Secret, it's a mix of red and blue. So let's dig into the executive officers…

• Carol Meyrowitz, Executive Chairman of the Board, donates to a mix of Republicans and Democrats
• Ernie Herman, President and CEO, rides the blue wave and donated over $17K to Biden's campaign
• Ken Canestrari, SVP and Group President, doesn't show up on Open Secrets
• Nor does Louise Greenlees, Senior Executive Vice President and Group President
• No data for Douglas Mizzi, another Senior Executive Vice President and Group President
• John Klinger, Senior Executive Vice President and CFO has too common of a name to know for sure, but if he did donate, it was less than $1K.

Digging around, the only thing I can find that ties TJX or any of its subsidiaries to Trump is this Yahoo! Finance article saying the company may benefit from his proposed tariffs. Personally, I found nothing that makes me uncomfortable with partnering with or shopping at T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and the rest. If I missed something, let me know in the comments, and I will update accordingly.

In Summary…

This research took a lot of time, and if I had more time I would dig into more of these companies. If you have information to share, please do in the comments below. Be an informed consumer, your wallet is power, and don't take one Reel, TikTok, Tweet, Thread, BlueSky post, clickbait article title, or conversation with a loved one as gospel.