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Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in their sandal design
Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in their sandal design

NBC News

time10 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 Authorities in Oaxaca have called for the 'Oaxaca Slip-On' to be withdrawn and demanded a public apology from Adidas, with officials describing the design as 'cultural appropriation' that may violate Mexican law.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.'

Mexico accuses Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design
Mexico accuses Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design

Saudi Gazette

time11 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

Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design
Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design

Los Angeles Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Los Angeles Times

Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in 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 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 similar to huaraches. Instead of flat leather soles, the Adidas shoes feature 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 about 10% of the gross domestic product of states such as 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 call out 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.' Sánchez writes for the Associated Press.

Mexican authorities fire off letter to Adidas, accuse it of cultural appropriation in sandal design
Mexican authorities fire off letter to Adidas, accuse it of cultural appropriation in sandal design

Indian Express

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Indian Express

Mexican authorities fire off letter to Adidas, accuse it of cultural appropriation in sandal design

Mexican authorities have accused sportswear company Adidas of copying a traditional indigenous sandal design in a new product, the Associated Press (AP) reported. The design in question, called the 'Oaxaca Slip-On,' was created for Adidas Originals by US designer Willy Chavarría. It features thin braided leather straps similar to those found on traditional huaraches made by artisans in the southern state of Oaxaca. The Adidas version uses a thicker sports shoe sole instead of the flat leather sole. According to Mexican officials, the design includes elements that form part of the cultural heritage of the Zapotec Indigenous communities in Oaxaca, particularly from the town of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag. Handicrafts are an important source of income in Mexico, employing around half a million people nationwide. Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz sent a public letter to Adidas leadership criticising the design. 'Creative inspiration is not a valid justification for using cultural expressions that provide identity to communities,' he wrote, adding: 'Culture isn't sold, it's respected.' Local artisan Viridiana Jarquín García, who makes and sells huaraches in Oaxaca City, told AP the Adidas model was a 'cheap copy' of work that takes time and care to make. 'The artistry is being lost. We're losing our tradition,' she said. #México acusa a #Adidas de apropiación cultural Las autoridades de Oaxaca denuncian que las nuevas sandalias 'Oaxaca Slip-On' de la marca alemana, inspiradas en huaraches zapotecos de Villa Hidalgo Yalálag, no dan crédito ni involucran a los artesanos de la región. /trc — DW Español (@dw_espanol) August 7, 2025 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Adidas was already in talks with Oaxaca state authorities to provide 'compensation for the people who were plagiarised' and that her government was preparing legal reforms to prevent the copying of traditional designs. Adidas responded in a letter on Friday saying it 'deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexico's Indigenous people and recognises the relevance' of the concerns. The company asked to meet officials to discuss how it could 'repair the damage' to Indigenous populations. Authorities in Oaxaca have demanded Adidas withdraw the 'Oaxaca Slip-On' from sale and issue a public apology. The dispute is part of a wider push by Mexico to protect Indigenous designs. In 2021, the federal government asked brands including Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl to explain why they were selling products based on designs from Oaxaca's Indigenous communities without permission.

Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in their sandal design

time2 days ago

  • Business

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 on 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 who 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."

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