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).
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.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you. I wish I’d seen this yesterday. I sent a stop it now letter to Chico’s FAS for all 3 of their mailing lists and now I regret it. Nice to know because I love WHBM jeans!!!
I have quite a few things on the way from anthro that will promptly be returned. Thank you for the thorough research.
What a disappointment.
Do keep in mind that there are plenty of retailers not on the radar that are just as horrible. If you’re going to return to Anthro, you shouldn’t give your money to Chik Fil A, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, AutoZone, Walmart, Shein, Temu, Amazon, Dole, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble… I could go on. We live in a very evil capitalist society and it infuses every part of our existence.
Thank you so much Alison for your time and quality research! I just downloaded Goods Unite Us.
Yay! Don’t rely on just Goods Unite Us, that is where the person in the video got her information and didn’t cross check.
Well written and researched. Thank you so much. Sad about Anthropologie ;(.
It is unfortunate… but also the majority of places we shop and brands we buy and use daily are just as awful.
Echoing others in thanking you for doing this research and sharing it. Valuable to know and also enlightening re: how social media drives false narratives that continue to divide us further. I know some of this (thus my avoidance of Hobby Lobby) but seeing these companies linked to their ownership and donations by actual facts is so helpful. I do appreciate you!
This is just one example of why I’ve followed your blog almost from the beginning. I’m not even all that interested in fashion these days (I wear a maxi dress and Birkenstocks every day) but I appreciate your professionalism and the courage you demonstrate when it comes to living your values. Well done!
Fantastic article, thank you Alison
Late to this, but on the past year I’ve started tackling this issue from the other direction. What brands are supporting issues and/or producing goods in ways that align with my values. So more of my dollars are going to smaller brands, more women owned or women founded brands, brands that are made in the US or EU. They are not prefect and I may or may not align with everything that a brand does, but I feel like it’s a start.
To be honest, I didn’t read the entire post because I’m exhausted, like a lot of Black women. And like a lot of Black women, I feel we did our job and we are no longer boycotting, buying pink hats, or basically doing shit else. It’s not on us to fix.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to start throwing dollars at companies I feel are vile, but it does mean I’m not accepting new applications from non BIPOC women on what’s acceptable to do, buy, listen to, etc. It is what is it is. Refusing to buy Hobby Lobby’s dismal, cheap, ridiculous merchandise did not stop November’s election results. I’m done.
It’s not your job, it’s on us, the white women of the U.S. We’re the problem, we need to make change and change doesn’t come with blue bracelets or safety pins or pink hats or giving 10% back on a t-shirt to some nonprofit. And I too don’t think boycotting Anthro is going to make a single difference in the future of this country. This post is in hopes that the white women who feel following some stranger on TikTok will see just like the Qanon folks it’s fake news and we need to do better and more and stop relying on performative activism and the work of people of color. <3
Excellent post, Alison. Thank you for the time and energy you put into doing this research.
Wow! I haven’t seen this video or even heard of it. But, I’m glad you brought it to our attention. I haven’t been in a Hobby Lobby store since the pandemic. I am disappointed to read about Anthropologie (and the others in that particular group) because they do sometimes have really cute quirky clothes. But, there are other retailers that do the same. I know the amount of time it took to do this research so I deeply appreciate what you, and so far no one else, have done. The next four years will be costly enough…we should spend our money wisely. Thank you again!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Echoing all the previous comments — this is all so great, thank you! I’m also happy to learn about Open Secrets and some of the other sources for future research.
The only thing that is maybe NOT so great is learning that private equity companies own such huge blocks of previously independent stores…. 🙁
I am an educator who presents regular on the importance of media literacy for students. Fact checking is a key skill not only for students, but for anyone who wants to be sure that what they are seeing/hearing/reading is accurate and free of bias. Thank you for doing the good work here!
I rarely comment on any blog, but this post really calls out for a response. Your research, careful thinking, and clear writing are so important in this culture which seems to value click-bait more than facts. Thank you for the time you devote to these important issues. And I also like your fashion sense and the guidance you dispense so graciously!
Thank you so much!
This was impressive! Thank you for taking the time to research and share this. It’s fascinating to see all the companies that are owned by the same corporations.
As someone who doesn’t use TikTok and really does not care for videos, I’d not watched that but it had been sent to me and was showing up in my social media feeds a lot. Too bad more people don’t research better.
I love this post. I have seen the click-baits on social media and totally forgot to fact check them. A great reminder that not everything we hear is true! The post I saw mentioned Sephora, too. Curious if you have any info on that? Thank you, as ever, for keeping us honest and informed.
Nope, that too was inaccurate https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/sephora-did-not-donate-trump-campaign-company-says-2024-11-27/ so frustrating these are going around, I think folks lie just because it will bring them engagement/views!
I totally agree! And thank you!
Thank you for this deep dive, please keep us posted on any other companies that we need to know about. I do wish to spend my dollar appropriately, thank you.
Thank you for this! This is the type of info journalists and media outlets should be sharing. Happy holidays all and especially you Alison!
I’m not sure how popular Lululemon is with readers, but thought I should mention it. It was founded in Canada by Chip Wilson, who currently remains its largest shareholder at around 8%, although he is no longer running the company. Bazillionaire Wilson did his level best to promote far right candidates in the recent BC election by painting others as “communists”. Although corporations are barred in Canada from making political contributions, and there are limits on personal donations, I still question whether we ought to be rewarding the Chip Wilsons of the world with our business (even if he owns a small fraction of the company). He also made disparaging comments about his own customers – those he felt should not be wearing his products because they weren’t thin enough.
Lululemon and Abecrombie are two brands that have done enough bad stuff in the past I don’t really care to promote any longer, and there are enough quality competitors out there to not have to shop them. Fat shaming, questionable business practices, manufacturing practices… we can do better.
Thank you both for calling out Lululemon and Abercrombie. Frustrates me to still see other blogs recommend or even endorse Lululemon widely now (cough, Cup of Jo).
Thanks for the thorough reporting, Alison!
thank you for this thoughtful post. I really appreciated the information and learned how to do my own deep dive.
That was my hope; armed with these sites we can all do a quick check before making a purchase or writing off a brand!
Great article, which highlights the necessity of reading beyond the memes and vetting information before drawing conclusions and running with them. This applies to so many facets of our lives, not just our pocketbooks. Sadly, that’s not what a vast majority of our fellow Americans did before casting their votes in our recent elections. Sigh. Thanks for the deep dive!
Wow! This was so educational! Not only for politics, but also for showing how brands are related. Thank you for doing this research and presenting for consideration. Very eye-opening!
Thank you so much for this information! So interesting, smart and thoughtful!
Thanks for this research and for showing how you do the research. This is an impactful read on several levels. You have me thinking about what we presume to be the nature of a brand based on its products, which I guess what marketing actually is? I appreciate the shrewdness you bring to the shopping experience along with the styling.
Hi Alison – thanks so much for this! Really appreciate the thoughtful research – it’s a good example of how to navigate the time ahead. Happy holidays to you!
Thanks for the deep dive. So helpful as we navigate through the political landscape.
Thank you so much for your research. I stopped shopping at Hobby Lobby
years ago. Now I will stop shopping at Anthropologie as well. I haven’t bought anything from them in a long time because the quality has deteriorated so much, but now I won’t even look at their website anymore.
I also don’t shop at Amazon. I too believe we should protest with our wallets.
I’m like you. I quit Amazon this summer, hopefully for good. My problem is I shop at Whole Foods. So now I’m working up the “courage” to shop elsewhere ( at myself, because it ain’t all that courageous…). It will help that shopping at Whole Foods has changed since Jeff Bezos bought it.
Thank you! Well done and I will share.
Thank you so much for all the work and research you did for this post. Honestly, it’s going to be tough for me to navigate these next several years. After weeks of soul-searching I find I really cannot support anyone who has supported the incoming administration. This post will be a big help.
Excellent article. Well researched and presented.
The app Goods Unite Us is a nice, quick reference to see a brand’s political leanings.
Yes! Don’t let your shopping undermine your vote. I read an article that mentioned the app, and have been using it for a few weeks. You even can analyze your current brands then find alternatives.
I’d love to see THIS post go viral, rather than some misinformation on social media.
Great information. Thank you for the time, detail and energy you put into this post. Much appreciated!
I always value your advice exactly because you DO your research and encourage others to do the same. Thanks for writing this and being a voice for empowerment and smart values in this space.
Amazing post! The petty part of me loves the fact check receipts but this is such useful information. This is a busy time of the year and took a lot of time to research. Thank you so much for this!
Thank you for this informative post!
My pleasure!
This was a really interesting read. Thank you for taking the time to do the background research into these companies.
My pleasure, I love sharing these deep dives in this time of soundbites and clickbait!
I appreciate this post so much. This kind of research is important to consider, because there is so much misinformation floating around so quickly, especially in the wake of the recent election. This post is a great example of why I trust your opinions and recommendations so much as a longtime reader.
Thank you so much, Jackie!
This! Intelligent, thoughtful, important.
This was fascinating. Thank you so much for this work.