Mexico wants Adidas to pay up after Mexican-American designer launches Indigenous-inspired shoe

By Raul Cortes

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico is looking for footwear giant Adidas to pony up after a Mexican-American designer working with the firm, Willy Chavarria, launched a shoe inspired by a traditional Indigenous sandal, authorities said on Friday.

Chavarria, who has been hailed in the U.S. for his work bringing Latino issues to light - including his controversial collection touching on the alleged gang members locked up at El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison - recently dropped the "Oaxaca Slip On" shoe, a sneaker sole topped with the weave of Mexico's huarache sandals. 

Critics in Mexico argued that the shoe uses the name of the southern Mexican state, a major manufacturer of the traditional leather sandals, while Chavarria's design is manufactured in China and Indigenous artisans received no credit or benefit from the multinational firm.

"Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from Indigenous communities," President Claudia Sheinbaum said in her morning press conference. "We are looking at the legal part to be able to support them."

Deputy Culture Minister Marina Nunez confirmed Adidas had contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss "restitution to the people who were plagiarized."

The dispute is the latest by Mexico to protect its traditional designs from global fashion firms, having previously lodged complaints against Zara-owner Inditex and Louis Vuitton.

Neither Adidas nor Chavarria, born in the U.S. to an Irish-American mother and a Mexican-American father, immediately responded to requests for comment.

Chavarria had told Sneaker News that he had intended to celebrate his cultural heritage through his work with Adidas.

"I'm very proud to work with a company that really respects and elevates culture in the truest way," he said.

(Reporting by Raul Cortes; Editing by Kylie Madry and Anna Driver)