Latest news with #Yalalag
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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Mexican-American designer apologizes for Adidas sandal design accused of cultural appropriation
The design launched by Adidas, known as the Oaxaca Slip On, is a black sandal with braided leather straps attached to a chunky sports shoe sole. Mexican-American clothing designer Willy Chavarria has apologized for an Adidas sandal he created after being accused by Mexican authorities of 'cultural appropriation' for imitating an Indigenous shoe design. The design launched by Adidas, known as the Oaxaca Slip On, is a black sandal with braided leather straps attached to a chunky sports shoe sole. Mexican artisans and authorities say the intricate leather braids look strikingly similar to the traditional footwear known as huaraches made by the Zapotec Indigenous people in Oaxaca, produced mostly in the town of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They have accused the brand and Chavarria of 'cultural appropriation' and of copying the design without the permission of the Indigenous community. Authorities were quick to note that cultural Mexican designs have long been copied by major brands before, and said they planned to tighten laws to protect Mexican designs. Chavarria responded to mounting criticisms in comments sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday. In a statement addressed to the 'people of Oaxaca,' he said that the design was intended to 'to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities — a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me.' 'I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,' Chavarria wrote. 'This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve.' Chavarria is a Mexican-American designer, who has risen to fame for his designs exploring Chicano, or Mexican-American, culture, often mixing Mexican themes with American products. His designs include sweaters reading 'Chicano' in red, scripted font, and styles with the Mexican flag and cowboy hats reminiscent of northern Mexican culture. In recent months, Chavarria also was put in the spotlight for a show at Paris Fashion Week that was intended as criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chavarria's comments came days after Adidas made a public apology for the design, and in a statement said it was reaffirming 'our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy.' Last week, in a letter to Oaxacan state officials, the company requested to sit down with local officials and to discuss how it can 'repair the damage' to Indigenous populations. 'Adidas recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage,' it wrote in a statement.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Adidas apologises for sandal appropriating Indigenous Mexican design
Adidas has formally apologised after Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the sportswear brand over a shoe that replicated traditional Indigenous huarache sandals without attributing the design or crediting artisans. The misstep comes shortly after Prada triggered a widespread backlash in India when its Milan fashion show debuted a sandal replicating Kolhapuri slippers, highlighting the increased scrutiny multinational brands face over the origin of their designs. "The ' Oaxaca slip-on ' was inspired by a design from Oaxaca, rooted in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag," Adidas said in a statement. "We offer a public apology and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honours their cultural legacy." Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that her administration is looking into legal ways of supporting Indigenous communities whose designs are taken by big companies, after Oaxaca officials criticised the Adidas shoe. The Oaxaca slip-on, launched five days ago by Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria with Adidas, features a black sneaker sole topped with the leather weave typical of Mexico's huarache sandals. Chavarria said on Saturday he was "deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community".
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Mexican-American designer apologizes for Adidas sandal design accused of cultural appropriation
MEXICO CITY — Mexican-American clothing designer Willy Chavarria has apologized for an Adidas sandal he created after being accused by Mexican authorities of 'cultural appropriation' for imitating an Indigenous shoe design. The design launched by Adidas, known as the Oaxaca Slip On, is a black sandal with braided leather straps attached to a chunky sports shoe sole. Mexican artisans and authorities say the intricate leather braids look strikingly similar to the traditional footwear known as huaraches made by the Zapotec Indigenous people in Oaxaca, produced mostly in the town of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. They have accused the brand and Chavarria of 'cultural appropriation' and of copying the design without the permission of the Indigenous community. Authorities were quick to note that cultural Mexican designs have long been copied by major brands before, and said they planned to tighten laws to protect Mexican designs. Chavarria responded to mounting criticisms in comments sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday. In a statement addressed to the 'people of Oaxaca,' he said that the design was intended to 'to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities — a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me.' 'I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,' Chavarria wrote. 'This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve.' Chavarria is a Mexican-American designer, who has risen to fame for his designs exploring Chicano, or Mexican-American, culture, often mixing Mexican themes with American products. His designs include sweaters reading 'Chicano' in red, scripted font, and styles with the Mexican flag and cowboy hats reminiscent of northern Mexican culture. In recent months, Chavarria also was put in the spotlight for a show at Paris Fashion Week that was intended as criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policy. Chavarria's comments came days after Adidas made a public apology for the design, and in a statement said it was reaffirming 'our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy.' Last week, in a letter to Oaxacan state officials, the company requested to sit down with local officials and to discuss how it can 'repair the damage' to Indigenous populations. 'Adidas recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage,' it wrote in a statement. Janetsky writes for the Associated Press.
Boston Globe
7 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Mexican-American designer apologizes for Adidas sandal design accused of cultural appropriation
They have accused the brand and Chavarria of 'cultural appropriation' and of copying the design without the permission of the Indigenous community. Authorities were quick to note that cultural Mexican designs have long been copied by major brands before, and said they planned to tighten laws to protect Mexican designs. Advertisement Chavarria responded to mounting criticisms in comments sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday. In a statement addressed to the 'people of Oaxaca,' he said that the design was intended to 'to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities — a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,' Chavarria wrote. 'This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve.' Chavarria is a Mexican-American designer, who has risen to fame for his designs exploring Chicano, or Mexican-American, culture, often mixing Mexican themes with American products. His designs include sweaters reading 'Chicano' in red, scripted font, and styles with the Mexican flag and cowboy hats reminiscent of northern Mexican culture. Advertisement In recent months, Chavarria also was put in the spotlight for a show at Paris Fashion Week that was intended as criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policy. Chavarria's comments came days after Adidas made a public apology for the design, and in a statement said it was reaffirming 'our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy.' Last week, in a letter to Oaxacan state officials, the company requested to sit down with local officials and to discuss how it can 'repair the damage' to Indigenous populations. 'Adidas recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage,' it wrote in a statement.
7 days ago
- Entertainment
Designer apologizes for Adidas sandal design
MEXICO CITY -- Mexican-American clothing designer Willy Chavarria has apologized for an Adidas sandal he created after being accused by Mexican authorities of 'cultural appropriation' for imitating an Indigenous shoe design. The design launched by Adidas, known as the Oaxaca Slip On, is a black sandal with braided leather straps attached to a chunky sports shoe sole. Mexican artisans and authorities say the intricate leather braids look strikingly similar to the traditional footwear known as huaraches made by the Zapotec Indigenous people in Oaxaca, produced mostly in the town of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. They have accused the brand and Chavarria of 'cultural appropriation' and of copying the design without the permission of the Indigenous community. Authorities were quick to note that cultural Mexican designs have long been copied by major brands before, and said they planned to tighten laws to protect Mexican designs. Chavarria responded to mounting criticisms in comments sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday. In a statement addressed to the 'people of Oaxaca,' he said that the design was intended to 'to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities — a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me.' 'I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,' Chavarria wrote. 'This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve.' Chavarria is a Mexican-American designer, who has risen to fame for his designs exploring Chicano, or Mexican-American, culture, often mixing Mexican themes with American products. His designs include sweaters reading 'Chicano' in red, scripted font, and styles with the Mexican flag and cowboy hats reminiscent of northern Mexican culture. In recent months, Chavarria also was put in the spotlight for a show at Paris Fashion Week that was intended as criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policy. Chavarria's comments came days after Adidas made a public apology for the design, and in a statement said it was reaffirming 'our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy.' Last week, in a letter to Oaxacan state officials, the company requested to sit down with local officials and to discuss how it can 'repair the damage' to Indigenous populations. 'Adidas recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage,' it wrote in a statement.
