Posted on 08/10/2025 10:05:16 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches.
The controversy has fueled accusations of cultural appropriation by the footwear brand, with authorities saying this is not the first time traditional Mexican handicrafts have been copied. Citing these concerns, local authorities have asked Adidas to withdraw the shoe model.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that Adidas was already in talks with authorities in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to provide “compensation for the people who were plagiarized,” and that her government was preparing legal reforms to prevent the copying of Mexican handicrafts.
The design at the center of the controversy is the “Oaxaca Slip-On,” a sandal created by U.S. designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals. The sandals feature thin leather straps braided in a style that is unmistakably similar to the traditional Mexican huaraches. Instead of flat leather soles, the Adidas shoes tout a more chunky, sports shoe sole.
According to Mexican authorities, Adidas’ design contains elements that are part of the cultural heritage of the Zapotec Indigenous communities in Oaxaca, particularly in the town of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag. Handicrafts are a crucial economic lifeline in Mexico, providing jobs for around half a million people across the country. The industry accounts for around 10% of the gross domestic product of states like Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacán and Guerrero.
For Viridiana Jarquín García, a huaraches creator and vendor in Oaxaca’s capital, the Adidas shoes were a “cheap copy” of the kind of work that Mexican artists take time and care to craft.
“The artistry is being lost. We’re losing our tradition,” she said in...
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Liberals have no purpose in life but to take offense at something.
Karen: “ i am offended that you say that….”
If you look at the huaraches in the pictures, there are a hundred variants.
They’ve got everything but spike heels.
They’re going after Greek fishermen next.
Sure thing. “These natives have been plagiarized and you owe them a bazillion dollars! Just give the money to us and we’ll see that they get it. Less a few administrative costs, of course...you can trust us...no, really...”
Bingo!
I thought adidas was a German company. Go war with them
Yep. An apology is like blood in the water to lefties.
It only emboldens, never placates them.
I guess they solved their cartel problemo and now have time to work on the important stuff.
Deal?
“For Viridiana Jarquín García, a huaraches creator and vendor in Oaxaca’s capital, the Adidas shoes were a ‘cheap copy’ of the kind of work that Mexican artists take time and care to craft.”
Kind of like Mexicans making U.S. cars?
gfy
Shakedown.
Adidas should tell them to bag off.
So what? Mine go well my my sombrero.
Tough chit Mehseeco.
Always chiseling los greengos.
America is a melting pot. So get over it.
Hey mexico
Just sell your drugs and shut the hell up
“Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in their sandal design”
encouraged by these lawsuits, descendants of the original cavemen are suing all shoemakers who use animal hides in their products for “cultural appropriation” ... they’re also considering similar lawsuits for any weapon that has a pointy end or any weapon that can thrown by hand ...
Actually, the Tevas I wore in the ‘90’s bore similarities to the styles the Tarahumaras made out of rubber car tires.
I thought the same thing. I remember the tire-soled sandals.
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