Oaxaca’s state government has announced plans to file a legal complaint against Adidas and Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarría, citing the alleged unauthorized use of the name “Oaxaca” and of traditional huarache designs in the company’s newly launched Oaxaca Slip-On sandal.
Governor Salomón Jara Cruz’s legal threat on Tuesday was the latest charge of cultural appropriation emanating from Oaxaca. Earlier this year, a group of 300 Oaxacan artisans accused two U.S. fashion brands of using traditional huipil patterns in their clothes.
In the current complaint, the governor emphasized concerns that the creators did not obtain consent from the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalág, whose signature huarache craftsmanship inspired the sandal. He also expressed his disdain over the use of the name “Oaxaca” for the new shoe.
“We will approach our brothers and sisters in Yalalág to file a report for identity theft,” Jara Cruz stated at a press conference.
The Oaxaca Slip-On was officially unveiled this week during a massive Adidas event at the Puerto Rico Museum of Art in San Juan. Adidas has taken over the historic facility’s exhibit halls and gardens for three weeks to celebrate five years of creative partnership between Adidas Originals and renowned Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny.
Chavarría and other creative forces from Adidas kicked off the event by participating in panels that also unveiled new models — including the Oaxaca Slip-On.
The shoe features a premium leather upper in a hand-woven style reminiscent of traditional Oaxacan huaraches, paired with a chunky Adidas sneaker sole.
An acclaimed U.S. designer known for fusing streetwear, political activism and Chicano cultural references, Chavarría said the shoe seeks to merge Indigenous Mexican footwear heritage with Chicano style and contemporary streetwear.
“I celebrate Latino culture and celebrate queer culture because that’s like me,” Chavarría told Sneaker News at the event. “But at the end of the day … it’s about human dignity. It’s about respecting and loving one another.”
Chavarría was born in 1967 in Huron, a small farmworker community in Fresno County, California.
“It makes me very proud to be working with a company that really respects and uplifts culture in the most real way,” he added.
Nonetheless, Oaxacan artisans and officials have raised concerns about recurring incidents of cultural appropriation, where international brands, including luxury designers, have been accused of taking Indigenous Mexican designs without permission or benefit to the communities.
Levi’s accused of culturally appropriating indigenous designs
Previous cases have involved fashion companies such as Carolina Herrera, Zimmermann and Shein. The Mexican fabric company Modatelas was accused of plagiarizing traditional designs from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and the U.S. brand Anthropologie was accused of using the Xaam nïxuy design from a Mixe community without permission.
In 2022, the Ralph Lauren brand apologized after being accused of plagiarizing Mexican textile designs.
The Ministry of Culture has long argued these practices represent both economic harm and “symbolic dispossession” of Indigenous identity and creativity.
Villa Hidalgo Yalalág is a Zapotec community in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca, roughly 90 kilometers northeast of Oaxaca City. The community is recognized for its hand-woven huaraches, textiles and other traditional crafts that are emblematic of Oaxacan heritage.
With reports from El Financiero, Publimetro and Sneaker News
Absolutely sickening 😪 🤮! Adidas most certainly does not respect nor uplift the Oaxacan culture. Just another big corporation ripping off the indigenous community! Wish I had a pair of Adidas tennis shoes to burn but thankfully I’ve never wasted my money on them!
It would have been very helpfull when you have posted a photo of the original Oaxaca design.
Absolutely, cultural appropriation. Anything to make a buck. Doesn’t help the artisans of Oaxaca one bit. Sickening.
Like in music , royalties could be paid to the appropriate town or government to help one of Mexicos poorest states .
So using this logic. Anything marketed/sold in Mexico that relates to say, Nordic Viking culture, would be considered cultural appropriation and just approval and compensation is required? Same for Japanese or other Asian cultures? Where does this stop?
The shoes are cool. But a business agreement should be hashed out between the designer, the company, and the original artisans. Huraches are a staple of Mexican clothing. Put some edifying info on a tag on all shoes sold. And raise the tax a little to accomplish that. The designer was Mexican American, probably not thinking of his forefathers.
Yiikes! Help me understand. I am a non-Mexican and a fan of all things Mexico. We travel across Mexico often. I love the designs, the colors, the clothing… besides the people and the culture. I used to buy huípiles or some other piece of clothing because they are so beautiful – but I’ve stopped wearing such things because of this issue of cultural appropriation. What’s the determinate factor that makes such thinks cultural appropriation?
This is a good question, and along with this one….where does “cultural appropriation” start or stop? For instance, do the Greeks have claim to the Klismos chair and many other things. The Italians, the Germans, the Romanians, the Scots, Egypt, Morocco, and any other African tribe/nation? I DEFINITELY BELIEVE that cultures need to be recognized, but honestly, where is the “appropriation” line when something serves as inspiration? I’m not picking sides, but the Adidas shoe is definitely not a copy. The sole is entirely different. Just saying to provoke thought on the issue.