Adidas under fire for alleged cultural theft: Officials claim the sports brand incorporated traditional design from indigenous community in Oaxaca, Mexico, into its new footwear line.
Mexico Pursues Legal Action Against Adidas for Cultural Appropriation
Mexico's government, particularly authorities from the state of Oaxaca, are threatening legal action against sports giant Adidas over their "Oaxaca Slip-On" shoe design. The design, which closely resembles traditional Indigenous huaraches, has raised concerns of cultural appropriation and exploitation of Indigenous heritage.
The controversy centers around Adidas launching a shoe design similar to Oaxaca's traditional artisan footwear. The Oaxaca governor, Salomón Jara, has publicly accused Adidas of plagiarizing and appropriating traditional Mexican Indigenous designs without permission or compensation.
For many Mexican artisans, the Adidas shoes are a "cheap copy" of the kind of work that they take time and care to craft. The artistry and tradition of huaraches are being lost due to such incidents, and the industry, which accounts for approximately 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of states such as Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guerrero, is being threatened.
The Mexican government characterizes this as an infringement on Indigenous rights and has signaled its intent to pursue legal remedies to protect that heritage and secure compensation for the affected artisans and Indigenous groups. The National Institute of Indigenous Peoples in Mexico will launch a legal challenge over the Adidas design.
Adidas representatives have agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities, but neither the company nor designer Willy Chavarria, who has Mexican heritage, have responded to requests for comment from reporters. Chavarria previously stated that he intended to celebrate his cultural heritage through his work with Adidas.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has also weighed in on the issue, stating that big companies often take products, ideas, and designs from Indigenous communities and that the heritage law must be complied with. Culture, according to Oaxaca state governor, Salomon Jara Cruz, isn't sold, it's respected.
Mexican news outlet Periodico Supremo asked followers on social media if they will buy the Adidas shoes, with many responding negatively, citing the cultural appropriation and lack of respect for Indigenous communities. This isn't the first time such complaints have been raised about major clothing brands using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from Mexico. Previous complaints have been raised about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spain's Zara, high-end labels Carolina Herrera, and Louis Vuitton.
Handicrafts, including huaraches, are a crucial economic lifeline in Mexico, providing jobs for about half a million people across the country. As such, the protection and preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage and intellectual property are of paramount importance to the Mexican government.
- The controversy over Adidas' "Oaxaca Slip-On" shoe design, which resembles traditional Indigenous huaraches, has raised concerns of cultural appropriation and exploitation of Indigenous heritage.
- Adidas is being accused of plagiarizing and appropriating traditional Mexican Indigenous designs without permission or compensation by the Mexican government and artisans.
- The Mexican government is pursuing legal action against Adidas, with the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples launching a legal challenge over the Adidas design.
- Big companies, including Adidas, are often accused of taking products, ideas, and designs from Indigenous communities without respecting their cultural heritage.
- The protection and preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage and intellectual property are of paramount importance to the Mexican government, as handicrafts, including huaraches, provide jobs for about half a million people across the country.
- Mexican news outlet Periodico Supremo asked followers on social media if they will buy the Adidas shoes, with many responding negatively, citing cultural appropriation and lack of respect for Indigenous communities.
- Complaints about major clothing brands using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from Mexico have been raised before, including about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spain's Zara, high-end labels Carolina Herrera, and Louis Vuitton.
