Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation
Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara first addressed the issue during a press conference on Tuesday, saying the sandals were a "reinterpreted huarache model," particularly one that was uniquely found in the state.
In another instance, Isaias Carranza, a Oaxacan legislator of Indigenous Zapotec descent, wrote on his Facebook account: "The Adidas company, in conjunction with designer Willy Chavarria, appropriated a unique design of the traditional huaraches (sandals) from the people of the Hidalgo Yalalag village."
Jara also threatened to take legal action against Chavarria.
"This huarache is from Yalalag...we are also going to ask our Yalalag siblings to work with us so we can file a complaint" against the designer, he said at the press conference.
For its part, the Ministry of Cultures and Arts of Oaxaca said in a statement that using cultural elements for commercial purposes without the consent of Indigenous peoples was "a violation of our collective rights," demanding that Adidas stop selling the sandals, publicly acknowledge their origin and begin a process of "dialogue and redress of grievances" with the Yalalag community.
The controversy is the latest instance of Mexican officials denouncing major brands or designers using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from the region, with previous complaints raised about Chinese fast fashion company Shein, Spanish mega-brand Zara and high fashion house Carolina Herrera.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Designer says regrets Adidas 'appropriated' Mexican footwear
Local authorities had complained that the Oaxaca Slip-On sandals were a "reinterpreted" model of huarache sandals, particularly one found uniquely in the area, which has one of the highest Indigenous populations in the country. Mexico's government said Friday it was seeking compensation from Adidas. "I deeply regret that this design has appropriated the name and was not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community," Chavarria, who is of Mexican heritage, said in a statement sent to AFP. Chavarria acknowledged that the sandals "did not live up to the respect and collaborative approach" deserved by the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, from where the original design is said to have come. The Mexican government said Friday that Adidas had agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities. "It's collective intellectual property. There must be compensation. The heritage law must be complied with," President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her regular morning press conference Friday. The controversy is the latest instance of Mexican officials denouncing major brands or designers using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from the region, with previous complaints raised about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spain's Zara and high-end label Carolina Herrera.
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Mexico discounts risk of 'invasion' after Trump order to target cartels
"There will be no invasion of Mexico," Sheinbaum said after The New York Times reported that Trump had secretly signed a directive to use military force against cartels that his administration has declared terrorist organizations. "We were informed that this executive order was coming and that it had nothing to do with the participation of any military personnel or any institution in our territory," Sheinbaum told her regular morning conference. The Mexican foreign ministry said later that Mexico "would not accept the participation of US military forces on our territory." The remarks followed a statement released by the US embassy in Mexico, which said both countries would use "every tool at our disposal to protect our peoples" from drug trafficking groups. US ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said on X that the countries "face a common enemy: the violent criminal cartels." The Pentagon referred questions on the issue to the White House, which did not immediately confirm the order. The Times said Trump's order provided an official basis for military operations at sea or on foreign soil against the cartels. In February, his administration designated eight drug trafficking groups as terrorist organizations. Six are Mexican, one is Venezuelan and the eighth originates in El Salvador. Two weeks ago, his administration added another Venezuelan gang, the Cartel of the Suns, which has shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the United States over two decades. On Thursday, the US Justice Department doubled to $50 million its bounty on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, whom it accuses of leading the Cartel of the Suns. Venezuela has dismissed the allegations, with Foreign Minister Yvan Gil calling it "the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen." Sheinbaum has made strenuous efforts to show Trump she is acting against her country's cartels, whom he accuses of flooding the United States with drugs, particularly fentanyl. "We are cooperating, we are collaborating, but there will be no invasion. That is absolutely ruled out," she said. She said that in "every call" with US officials, Mexico insisted that this "is not permitted." The 63-year-old has been dubbed the "Trump whisperer" for repeatedly securing reprieves from his threats of stiff tariffs over the smuggling of drugs and migrants across their shared border.
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Mexico seeks compensation from Adidas in cultural appropriation row
The Oaxaca Slip-On sandals were created by US fashion designer Willy Chavarria, who has Mexican heritage, but drew pushback from officials in Oaxaca, who say he did not receive authorization from the Indigenous community behind the original design. The government said that Adidas had agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities, who argue that the sandal is modelled on the traditional "huarache" (sandal) of the village of Villa de Hidalgo Yalalag. "It's collective intellectual property. There must be compensation. The heritage law must be complied with," President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her regular morning press conference. The controversy is the latest instance of Mexican officials denouncing major brands or designers using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from the region, with previous complaints raised about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spain's Zara and high-end label Carolina Herrera.
