Adidas under fire for alleged cultural appropriation in their sandal design, according to Mexican authorities.
In a recent turn of events, the design of Adidas' "Oaxaca Slip-On" has sparked controversy and accusations of cultural appropriation. The sandal, inspired by traditional Indigenous Zapotec huaraches, has been criticized for not crediting or collaborating with the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag, whose designs influenced the shoe.
Oaxaca's Governor, Salomón Jara Cruz, has been vocal about his disapproval, stating that "Culture is not sold, it is respected." He has demanded Adidas to stop selling the shoes and provide credit and compensation. Local authorities have also asked for the withdrawal of the shoe model from Adidas.
However, there are currently no publicly reported legal reforms in Mexico specifically enacted to prevent cultural appropriation of traditional handicrafts in direct response to the Adidas Oaxaca Slip-On controversy as of August 2025. The incident has, nonetheless, intensified calls for more formal mechanisms to safeguard traditional crafts from unauthorized commercial use.
Mexico's current legal framework related to Indigenous cultural heritage tends to rely on intellectual property and cultural rights laws that do not always effectively prevent cultural appropriation by large corporations. This case could potentially accelerate future policy discussions or reforms, but as of now, no concrete new laws or regulations specifically addressing this have been reported.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has mentioned that Adidas is in talks to provide compensation to those plagiarized and her government is preparing legal reforms to prevent the copying of Mexican handicrafts. Mexican authorities are also working on stricter regulations to protect artists, but they also want to establish guidelines to allow artists to trade or collaborate with global companies.
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.
Viridiana Jarquín García, a huaraches creator and vendor in Oaxaca's capital, described the Adidas shoes as a "cheap copy" of the kind of work that Mexican artists take time and care to craft. Adidas has recognized the criticisms against it and requested to discuss with local officials on how to "repair the damage" to Indigenous populations.
A public apology from Adidas is also being requested by Oaxaca authorities, and Adidas has expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue. Marina Núñez, Mexico's undersecretary of cultural development, has stated the need to balance protecting artists and allowing them opportunities to collaborate with global companies.
This controversy is not a new development in Mexico's efforts to push back on major global clothing brands copying traditional designs. In 2021, the federal government asked manufacturers including Zara, Anthropologie, and Patowl to provide a public explanation for copying clothing designs from Oaxaca's Indigenous communities.
As the conversation around cultural appropriation and the protection of Indigenous cultural expressions continues, it is crucial for companies like Adidas to engage in respectful and collaborative practices when drawing inspiration from traditional cultures.
- In response to the controversy surrounding Adidas' "Oaxaca Slip-On", Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Adidas is in talks to provide compensation to those plagiarized.
- The Adidas shoes, criticized for cultural appropriation and lack of collaboration with the Zapotec community, have spurred calls for more formal mechanisms to safeguard traditional crafts from unauthorized commercial use.
- The handicrafts industry in Mexico, providing jobs for around half a million people and accounting for about 10% of the GDP in states like Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guerrero, is a crucial economic lifeline.
- Adidas has recognized the criticisms against it and requested to discuss with local officials on how to "repair the damage" to Indigenous populations, also expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue.
- This is not a new development in Mexico's efforts, as in 2021, manufacturers including Zara, Anthropologie, and Patowl were also asked to provide a public explanation for copying clothing designs from Oaxaca's Indigenous communities.
