Designer regrets Adidas 'appropriated' traditional Mexican sandals
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.--AFP
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Climate change, deforestation, and commercial encroachments are further threatening traditional food systems and eroding traditional knowledge, passed down through generations. As Malaysia embraces digitalisation, it is critical that these technologies are not used to further exclude Indigenous Peoples' voices or erase ancestral claims. AI-driven land mapping, and automation in land registries must be designed inclusively, respecting traditional knowledge and community participation. Technology must be harnessed to empower Indigenous communities, to document their histories, protect sacred sites, improve participatory land governance, and preserve culture and languages. A call to action Over a decade ago, Suhakam released the National Inquiry Report, and its findings remain as relevant and urgent as ever. Despite the Government's formal acceptance of 17 out of 18 recommendations, progress has been slow and fragmented, reflecting a wider lack of political will to place Indigenous rights at the forefront of national priorities. In commemorating this year's International Indigenous Peoples Day, Suhakam renews its call for the Government to: - Develop and implement a comprehensive National Action Plan on Indigenous Rights and enshrine constitutional recognition to safeguard the dignity, identity, and rights of the Indigenous Peoples; - Establish an Independent National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, as recommended under Recommendation 18 of the National Inquiry, with a mandate to advise on legislation, monitor development, and represent the voices of Indigenous communities; - Amend Article 153 of the Federal Constitution to explicitly recognise the Orang Asli as equal beneficiaries of constitutional protections and affirmative action measures alongside the Malays and the Natives of Sabah and Sarawak; and - Harmonise Federal and State-level laws and policies, especially regarding the gazettement and legal protection of ancestral and Indigenous customary lands. The protection of Indigenous land rights is not a matter of policy convenience; it is a question of justice, dignity, and survival. Governments have a moral and legal duty to safeguard the lands, resources, and cultures of Indigenous Peoples, in accordance with international human rights standards. As UNDRIP's Article 8(2) affirms: States must prevent and redress any actions that aim to dispossess Indigenous Peoples of their lands, territories, or resources. The time for action is now, before more of what is irreplaceable is lost forever. PAREMESWARI SUBRAMANIAM Principal Assistant Secretary, Policy Division, Suhakam
