Adidas: Sneaker sandals cause trouble with authorities in Mexico

The new sneaker sandal “Oaxaca Slip-on” from Adidas ensures heated minds. Reason: According to Mexican politicians, the shoe model designed by the US designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals has striking similarity to the traditional indigenous footwear called Huaraches. Local authorities have therefore asked Adidas to withdraw their shoes.

The sandals have thin leather straps that are braided in a style that unmistakably resembles traditional Mexican Huaraches. Instead of flat leather soles, the Adidas shoes have a chunky sports shoe sole.

The authorities in Oaxaca have asked to withdraw the shoe and request a public apology from Adidas. They described the design as a “cultural appropriation”, which may violate Mexican law.

According to Mexican authorities, the adidas design contains elements that belong to the cultural heritage of the Zapotecian indigenous communities in Oaxaca, especially from the city of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. Craftsmanship is an important economic livelihood in Mexico and offers about half a million people across the country. The industry accounts for about ten percent of gross domestic product in states such as Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacán and Guerrero.

In a public letter to the Adidas management, the governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, criticized the company’s design with the words that “creative inspiration” is not a valid justification to use cultural expression forms that “lend community identity”. He added: “Culture is not sold, it is respected”.

Adidas is now said to have reacted to the letter, as the newspaper “El Universal” reports. The company explained in the fact that “the cultural wealth of the indigenous peoples of Mexico is very much appreciated and the relevance of criticism is recognized”. It asked to sit down at a table with local authorities and to discuss how the damage to the indigenous communities can “be well made” again.

The Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that Adidas was already in discussions with the authorities in the southern state of Oaxaca to do compensation. Your government also prepares legal reforms to prevent the copy of Mexican craftsmanship.