Cultural appropriation: Adidas apologized for copying traditional Indigenous footwear.
Adidas offered a public apology following the controversy sparked in Mexico by using traditional indigenous sandals as inspiration for a new shoe model, which led the government to announce that it will promote legal reform to prevent the plagiarism of handicrafts .
In apologizing for using huaraches from the southern state of Oaxaca as a reference for the creation of the “Oaxaca Slip-On” style , the German firm said it reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag in a “respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy.”
"Adidas recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico's indigenous communities and the significance of their artisanal heritage," stated the message sent by Adidas' Deputy Manager of Media Relations, Julia Dusemond.
The German company Adidas has joined the long list of multinational giants, especially in the fashion sector, accused of cultural appropriation.
Huaraches are flat sandals with beautiful braiding made from strips of leather and a sole of the same material or sometimes tire rubber. These ancestral footwear are handcrafted in several states in western and southern Mexico, including Oaxaca.
Adidas has offered a public apology following the controversy sparked in Mexico over the use of traditional indigenous sandals as inspiration for a new shoe model.
The “Oaxaca Slip-On” was developed by Adidas Originals in collaboration with renowned American designer Willy Chavarría , who also apologized for the incident in several media outlets.
" I deeply regret that this design has been misappropriated and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community," the artist said in a statement.
Chavarria acknowledged that the launch of the sandals "does not reflect the respect and collaborative approach" that the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, the birthplace of the original design, deserves , according to the Oaxaca government.
The people of Yalalag "were plagiarized and (...) suffered this cultural appropriation," said Marina Núñez, the federal undersecretary of Cultural Development. "It's intellectual property, collective property, and there must be compensation," said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum , after announcing a meeting between Adidas and the Oaxaca government.
"Large companies are taking products, ideas, and designs from Indigenous communities in our country. We are working on a law to further guarantee what already exists ," Sheinbaum added, anticipating that there may be "economic consequences" to these actions.
The National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) announced that it has "initiated the appropriate actions" to protect Zapotec heritage.
Chavarria was in the spotlight at the end of June after Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele accused him of "glorifying criminals" in one of his shows at Paris Fashion Week.
Adidas has offered a public apology following the controversy sparked in Mexico over the use of traditional indigenous sandals as inspiration for a new shoe model.
During the parade, several tattooed men wearing white T-shirts and shorts knelt , reminiscent of the posture imposed on inmates at the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) , the maximum security prison built by Bukele to hold gang members.
Similar controversies have arisen in the past over the use of traditional Mexican designs and clothing by international brands.
When asked about Adidas's statement, Oaxaca's Secretary of Culture, Flavio Sosa, said he would await the results of a meeting between residents of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag and the state governor, Salomon Jara, and other state and federal authorities to define the strategy to be followed in dealing with the German company.
Adidas requested a virtual meeting with Jara to resolve the case. Sosa indicated that the community of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag will determine "how the damage is repaired ; second, the guarantee of non-repetition; and third, whether or not financial compensation is required."
The federal government introduced a program for craft certification, training for producers, and support for fair trade, while also announcing legal changes to prevent plagiarism.
This is not the only case in which major international fashion companies are accused of imitating the designs of Mexican indigenous groups.
In May 2021, for example, textile brands Zara of Spain and Anthropologie and Patowl of the United States were investigated by Mexican authorities for "cultural misappropriation" of designs from national ethnic groups.
Adidas has offered a public apology following the controversy sparked in Mexico over the use of traditional indigenous sandals as inspiration for a new shoe model.
The Ministry of Culture then demanded that the manufacturers of these garments clarify "on what grounds is the privatization of collective property " belonging to ethnic groups, with designs created in ancient times.
Zara, part of the Spanish conglomerate Inditex, was accused of copying the traditional "huipiles" (costumes) of the San Juan Colorado people in Oaxaca in its midi dress , and Anthropologie of "pirating" its Marka embroidered shorts with figures typical of the Mixe people, also from Oaxaca.
The company that makes clothes by Venezuelan-American designer Carolina Herrera was also accused in 2019 of appropriating embroidery from the community of Tenango , in the state of Mexico, near the capital.
With information from Ansa, AP and AFP.
Clarin
