Adidas, Designer Willy Chavarria apologizes after cultural appropriations resistance

Adidas and designer Willy Chavarria is facing counter-reaction after Mexican officials accused them of cultural funding for their Oaxaca slip.

The shoes, which took inspiration from the Mexican Huarache style of handmade leather sandals, came under fire from Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaumwho held a press conference on the shoes object and found that it was reportedly done in China without credit the Mexican communities that made the style popular.

The shoe has several design elements with direct ties to “Zapotec -in Home communities in Oaxaca, especially in the city of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag,” according to Associated Press.

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“Large companies often take products, ideas and designs from domestic communities,” said Sheinbaum during the conference. “We’re looking at the legal part to support them.”

On Friday, August 8, Sheinbaum reported that Adidas was in communication with the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to provide “compensation for the people who were plagiarized,” and that she is creating legal reforms to protect Mexican crafts from being copied.

Following Sheinbaum’s conference, Adidas responded with a letter stating that the company “deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexico’s domestic people and recognizes the relevance” of the cultural grants claims.

Adidas also asked to talk to Mexican officials to find out how the brand can “repair the damage” as it has done to the domestic population affected by the shoe design.

Adidas “recognizes and evaluates cultural wealth in Mexico’s domestic communities and the importance of their craft heritage,” the company said in a statement, per New York Times.

“Oaxaca Slip-on was inspired by a design from Oaxaca, anchored in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalag,” continued Adidas statement. “We offer a public apology and confirm our commitment to collaborate with Yalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural heritage.”

Chavarria also apologizes.

“I am deeply sorry for the shoe being allocated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,” he said in a statement to BBC On Sunday 10 August.

Chavarria said he was “deeply sad” for not working with the Oaxacan community and leaving, “this falls under respect and cooperation method such as Oaxaca, the Zapotec community in Villa Hidalgo Yalag, and its people deserve. I know that love is not just given -it is served through action.”

People have reached Adidas and Chavarria for comments.

The shoe was first annoyed on August 3 via Instagram. Fans quickly jumped into the comments in Hypeast’s post It showed the Oaxaca slip and shares its views and disappointment-by design selection.

“I like them but it feels strange that they are inspired (copied) from the Mexican craftsman Huarache and that no craftsmen benefit from this, not even involved in the work of making them,” wrote an Instagram user. “It would be a real collaboration that would come in handy.”

“I get the real ones from Mexico (those with the tire’s sole) and these. Mexicans who support Mexicans,” wrote one user, while another user was allowed, “My culture is not your costume.”