Ivanka Trump to close down fashion line that bears her name

IvankaTrump is shuttering her eponymous fashion brand.

The daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to pull the plug on the fashion line that bears her name.

"I am beyond grateful for the work of our incredible team who has inspired so many women; each other and myself included," Trump said in a statement announcing the brand would be shut down, and its dozen or so employees left unemployed.

"While we will not continue our mission together, I know that each of them will thrive in their next chapter."

Launched in 2011, the Ivanka Trump Collection sawbrisk sales of items like dresses, jewelry, perfume, handbags and women's shoes.

But in 2016, the president's daughter stepped away from the company and put it into a trust after becoming an official in her father's presidential administration. Abigail Klem was named president in Trump's extended absence.

Despite that distancing,theclothing line quickly became a focus of consumer boycotts by people upset with the Trump administration's agenda.

Last year U.S. chain Nordstrom stopped selling her goods, citing declining sales.

More recently, The Bay in Canada did the same.

"Views on the brand have become highly polarized and it has become a lightning rod for protests and boycotts," said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. "While the company is still viable, doing business has become far more challenging and these problems will only increase."

The brand will not immediately shut down, but rather will sell off its remaining inventory, and allow its contracts with retailers such as Lord & Taylor, Dillards, Bloomingdales, Zapposand Amazon.com to expire in the coming months.

"I know that this was a very difficult decision forIvanka, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have led such a talented and committed team,"Klemsaid Tuesday.

"We are incredibly proud of the brand we have built and the content and product we've developed for our customers."