American fashion designer Willy Chavarria has been criticized for creating shoes in collaboration with the originals of Adidas.
The Oaxaca sliding is inspired by traditional leather sandals called Huaraches made by Indigenous Mexican artisans.
The Mexican president is an objection to footwear, which was reportedly conducted in China with no consultation or consultation or credit to the community that initiated the design.
“I am very sorry that the shoes are possessed in this design and have no direct and meaningful partnership development with the Wahakan community,” Chavarria said in a statement to the BBC. The BBC has contacted Adidas for comment.
Cultural occupation is defined as “the unrecognized or improper adoption of a person or member of a society’s customs, practices, ideas, unauthorized or improper adoption of a person or society”.
“Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from indigenous communities,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a press conference.
“We are considering being able to support their legal part,” she added.
Mexican Culture Minister Marina Nunez added that Adidas contacted Wahakan officials to discuss “reparation of the stolen persons.”
Traditional Huaraches are on display at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico [Jesús Méndez/EPA/Shutterstock]
Promotional images of black molded open toe shoes have been removed from the brand’s social media accounts as well as from the sale of Chavarria.
Chavarria said in a statement that he wanted to “talk from the heart about the Oaxaca slide created by Adidas”.
“The purpose is always to respect the strong cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative community – the beauty and resistance of this place inspired me. The name Oaxaca is not only a word – it lives in culture, people and history.”
He went on to say that he was “very sorry” that he did not work with the Wahakan community.
He added: “This does not belong to the respect and collaboration method that Oaxaca, Villa Hidalgo Yalalag and its people deserve.”
“I know love is not only given—it is earned through action.”
Chavarria has been the senior vice president of design for Calvin Klein until 2024, founder and chief creative officer of his eponymous brand.
Adidas did not respond to a BBC request for comment.
Adidas responded to Mexican authorities in a letter Friday, the Associated Press reported.
The company reportedly “deeply cherishes the cultural wealth of the indigenous Mexican peoples and recognizes the relevance of criticism” and asks to sit down and talk about how to “repair the damage to indigenous communities.”
