On August 4, 2025, officials in Oaxaca, Mexico, accused Adidas of cultural appropriation for its “Oaxaca Slip-On” sandals, designed by Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria. The sandals, unveiled at an Adidas Originals event in Puerto Rico, feature a woven leather upper, open heel, and thick rubber sole, resembling traditional huaraches from the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag in Oaxaca, a region with one of Mexico’s largest Indigenous populations.
Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz called the design a “reinterpreted huarache model” and, during a press conference on August 5, accused Adidas of “identity theft” for using the name “Oaxaca” and copying Yalalag’s craftsmanship without permission. He demanded the sandals’ withdrawal, public acknowledgment of their origin, and dialogue with the community, threatening legal action through Mexico’s National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) and intellectual property agency (IMPI).
Oaxacan legislator Isaias Carranza, of Indigenous Zapotec descent, echoed this on Facebook, stating, “The Adidas company, in conjunction with designer Willy Chavarria, appropriated a unique design of the traditional huaraches from the people of the Hidalgo Yalalag village.” The Ministry of Cultures and Arts of Oaxaca condemned the commercial use of Indigenous designs without consent as a “violation of our collective rights,” urging Adidas to halt sales and engage in reparations with Yalalag.
Chavarria, born in California to Mexican parents, described the design as a fusion of Indigenous Mexican footwear with Chicano and streetwear aesthetics, telling Sneaker News, “It makes me very proud to be working with a company that really respects and uplifts culture.” However, Oaxaca officials argue the design exploits Zapotec heritage without community consent or benefit.
This controversy follows similar accusations against brands like Zara, Shein, and Carolina Herrera for using Indigenous Mexican designs without authorization. Mexico’s 2020 Federal Law for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples allows for fines up to $375,000 or prison sentences for such violations. If the IMPI rules in Oaxaca’s favor, Adidas could be barred from selling the sandals in Mexico.
Adidas and Chavarria have not publicly responded to the allegations. The sandals, not yet released but listed on Adidas’ website as a “bold reimagination of the huarache,” have sparked mixed reactions. Some X users, like @Elegido123_, argue the design honors Oaxacan culture by raising its global profile, while others, including @ActualidadRT and @ReporteYa, condemn it as exploitation, emphasizing the lack of community involvement.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between cultural preservation and commercialization, with Oaxaca’s artisans, who often sell huaraches for as little as $10, facing economic challenges as global brands profit from their designs.
Source: African Publicity