Latest news with #OaxacaSlip-On
Observer
2 hours ago
- Business
- Observer
Mexico wants Adidas to pay up after Mexican-American designer launches Indigenous-inspired shoe
In recent years, the global fashion industry has come under increasing scrutiny for its apparent tendency to misappropriate and copy traditional Indigenous designs from regions around the world, often without credit or compensation to the communities of origin. This ongoing issue has prompted several countries, including Mexico, to take a stand against multinational companies accused of exploiting cultural heritage for commercial gain. The latest controversy involves an incident between the Mexican government, its local artisans, and the footwear giant Adidas. Mexico has formally sought action against Adidas following a dispute over a product developed in collaboration with U.S.-based Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria. Chavarria's "Oaxaca Slip-On" shoes, a sneaker model featuring the woven pattern of traditional huarache sandals from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, have sparked widespread controversy. According to authorities, the design closely reinterprets a traditional Indigenous huarache, specifically originating from Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, a region renowned for its Indigenous artisans and craftwork. Critics in Mexico argued that although Chavarria's design aimed to celebrate Oaxacan culture, it failed to provide credit or economic benefits to the local artisans who originally created the traditional footwear. Moreover, the shoes were manufactured in China, further fueling claims of cultural exploitation and economic injustice. mexico2 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her government's stance during a recent press conference, emphasizing that "big companies often take products, ideas, and designs from Indigenous communities." She announced that Mexico is exploring legal avenues to ensure proper restitution and protection of its cultural heritage, referencing previous actions against fashion giants such as Zara's parent company, Inditex, and Louis Vuitton. Deputy Culture Minister Marina Nunez confirmed that Adidas had contacted Oaxaca officials to discuss 'restitution to the people who were plagiarized,' marking a step toward resolving the dispute. Chavarria, who was born in the United States to an Irish-American mother and a Mexican-American father, issued a heartfelt statement on Saturday, expressing regret over the situation. He stated that he was "deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community." He clarified that his intention was to honor Oaxaca's vibrant cultural and artistic spirit, but acknowledged his approach fell "short of the respect and collaboration the community deserved." Chavarria, known for his work bringing Latino issues to light—including a controversial collection addressing gang violence at El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison—had previously explained that his collaboration with Adidas was meant to celebrate his cultural heritage. However, the controversy highlights the broader issue of fashion brands leveraging Indigenous motifs without appropriate recognition or benefits. The Mexican government emphasized its commitment to defending its cultural patrimony, with President Sheinbaum stating, "It's collective intellectual property. There must be compensation. The heritage law must be complied with." This case underscores the ongoing fight by Mexico and other nations to protect their traditional arts and designs from unauthorized commercial use, with previous complaints filed against brands like Shein, Zara, and Carolina Herrera. —Reuters
NBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- NBC News
Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in their sandal design
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches. The controversy has fueled accusations of cultural appropriation by the footwear brand, with authorities saying this is not the first time traditional Mexican handicrafts have been copied. Citing these concerns, local authorities have asked Adidas to withdraw the shoe model. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Adidas was already in talks with authorities in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to provide 'compensation for the people who were plagiarized,' and that her government was preparing legal reforms to prevent the copying of Mexican handicrafts. The design at the center of the controversy is the 'Oaxaca Slip-On,' a sandal created by U.S. designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals. The sandals feature thin leather straps braided in a style that is unmistakably similar to the traditional Mexican huaraches. Instead of flat leather soles, the Adidas shoes tout a more chunky, sports shoe sole. According to Mexican authorities, Adidas' design contains elements that are part of the cultural heritage of the Zapotec Indigenous communities in Oaxaca, particularly in the town of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag. Handicrafts are a crucial economic lifeline in Mexico, providing jobs for around half a million people across the country. The industry accounts for around 10% of the gross domestic product of states like Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacán and Guerrero. For Viridiana Jarquín García, a huaraches creator and vendor in Oaxaca's capital, the Adidas shoes were a 'cheap copy' of the kind of work that Mexican artists take time and care to craft. 'The artistry is being lost. We're losing our tradition,' she said in front of her small booth of leather shoes. Authorities in Oaxaca have called for the 'Oaxaca Slip-On' to be withdrawn and demanded a public apology from Adidas, with officials describing the design as 'cultural appropriation' that may violate Mexican law. In a public letter to Adidas leadership, Oaxaca state Gov. Salomón Jara Cruz criticized the company's design, saying that 'creative inspiration' is not a valid justification for using cultural expressions that 'provide identity to communities.' 'Culture isn't sold, it's respected,' he added. Adidas responded in a letter Friday afternoon, saying that the company 'deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexico's Indigenous people and recognizes the relevance' of the criticisms. It requested to sit down with local officials and to discuss how it can 'repair the damage' to Indigenous populations. The controversy follows years of efforts by Mexico's government and artisans to push back on major global clothing brands that they say copy traditional designs. In 2021, the federal government asked manufacturers including Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl to provide a public explanation for why they copied clothing designs from Oaxaca's Indigenous communities to sell in their stores. Now, Mexican authorities say they're trying to work out stricter regulations in an effort to protect artists. But Marina Núñez, Mexico's undersecretary of cultural development, noted that they also want to establish guidelines to not deprive artists of 'the opportunity to trade or collaborate with several of these companies that have very broad commercial reach.'
Saudi Gazette
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Mexico accuses Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear giant Adidas of plagiarizing traditional Indigenous craftsmanship, alleging that a new sandal design closely mirrors the iconic huaraches made by artisans in southern Mexico. Officials in Oaxaca say the 'Oaxaca Slip-On,' created by U.S. designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals, features braided leather straps in a style rooted in the Zapotec Indigenous communities of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag. Instead of the traditional flat leather sole, the Adidas model incorporates a chunky, sports-style base. President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Adidas is already in talks with Oaxaca officials to provide 'compensation for the people who were plagiarized' and that her government is preparing legal reforms to safeguard Mexican handicrafts from being copied. For local shoemakers, the resemblance is unmistakable. 'The artistry is being lost. We're losing our tradition,' said Viridiana Jarquín García, a huaraches vendor in Oaxaca City. Oaxaca's government has demanded the sandals be withdrawn, along with a public apology from Adidas, calling the product 'cultural appropriation' that may violate Mexican law. 'Culture isn't sold, it's respected,' Governor Salomón Jara Cruz said in a public letter to the company. In response, Adidas said it 'deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexico's Indigenous people' and has asked to meet with officials to discuss ways to 'repair the damage' to affected communities. The dispute comes amid a broader push by Mexico's government to defend Indigenous designs. In 2021, brands including Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl were called out for allegedly copying traditional patterns from Oaxaca's artisans. Officials are now exploring stricter protections, though Mexico's undersecretary of cultural development, Marina Núñez, stressed the need to also create pathways for artisans to collaborate with global brands. — Agencies
eNCA
15 hours ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Designer says regrets Adidas 'appropriated' Mexican footwear
USA - US fashion designer Willy Chavarria said Saturday he regrets that sandals he created together with Adidas "appropriated" a traditional design from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. 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.
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Designer regrets Adidas 'appropriated' traditional Mexican sandals
MEXICO CITY: US fashion designer Willy Chavarria said Saturday he regrets that sandals he created together with Adidas "appropriated" a traditional design from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. 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
