Harper Beckham’s ambitions to launch her own beauty brand have hit a stumbling block in the United States, with trademark authorities rejecting her initial application for the name “Hiku By Harper.”
The 14-year-old daughter of David and Victoria Beckham received an “initial refusal” from the US Patent and Trademark Office, which cited potential confusion with brands already on the register.
According to reports, the word “Harper” is already trademarked for cleaning products, including brooms and scrubbing brushes, whilst “Hiku” is registered for toiletry and fragrance items.
The setback comes despite the teenager securing approval for the brand name in the UK back in October.
The youngster wants to break into the industry
|
Her planned beauty range, drawing inspiration from South Korean cosmetics, is reportedly aimed at Gen-Z and Gen Alpha consumers and could launch this summer.
Victoria spoke this week about the personal motivation behind her daughter’s entrepreneurial venture, describing Harper as “very ambitious” and “a little entrepreneur.”
The fashion designer, 52, revealed that Harper first approached her about the project two to three years ago when she was experiencing significant skin problems.
“She used to have beautiful skin, but like all young girls, she was enticed by beauty brands, and she was putting a lot of product on her face that was not suitable for her skin and consequently ended up going to see a dermatologist because her skin was really, really bad,” Victoria explained on Emma Grede’s podcast Aspire.
The youngest Beckham often attends events with her parents
|
GETTY
The teenager even prepared PowerPoint presentations to pitch her concept to her mother.
Victoria said she could empathise with Harper’s difficulties, having battled acne throughout her own life.
“I suffered with child acne, teenage acne, adult acne, every acne under the sun, I’ve been there. So I could really relate to her,” Victoria said.
Harper told her mother: “I want to create a brand because I don’t want other people to have to go through what I’ve been through.”
Harper has a close bond with her parents
|
GETTY
The proposed product line is designed specifically for teenagers struggling with spots and blemishes.
The US trademark application encompasses cosmetics and acne treatments, along with footwear, clothing, keyrings, stickers, hair decorations, and brushes.
Harper has been developing the project for over a year, having submitted the American trademark application in November.
The Beckham family now has a six-month window to challenge the initial refusal and pursue their transatlantic expansion plans.
Harper received an “initial refusal” from the US
|
GETTY
The Beckham family has a well-established track record of protecting their children’s commercial interests through intellectual property law.
Victoria registered Harper’s name for use across a range of branded merchandise, including cosmetics, toys, and clothing, when her daughter was just five years old.
At the time, intellectual property expert Oliver Bray, a partner at international law firm RPC, described the move as unprecedented.
“It normally happens when your career is getting going, and a lawyer says, ‘Let’s get some protection in place.’ As opposed to the future-proofing which is what Victoria Beckham has done with her children,” he told the Daily Mail.
Mr Bray suggested the strategy could be viewed as “savvy and looking to the future” in an era of social media and celebrity exploitation.
Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter