Adidas faces potential lawsuits over its 'Oaxanca Slip-On' sandal from authorities in Oaxaca.
In a move that reflects the growing global debate about cultural appropriation, the state government of Oaxaca has announced its intention to file a legal complaint against sports giant Adidas and designer Willy Chavarría. The complaint alleges the unauthorized use of the name "Oaxaca" and traditional huarache designs in the Oaxaca Slip-On sandal.
The Oaxaca Slip-On, unveiled this week at an Adidas event in San Juan, features a premium leather upper in a hand-woven style reminiscent of traditional Oaxacan huaraches. The shoe is paired with a chunky Adidas sneaker sole, and according to Chavarría, it seeks to merge Indigenous Mexican footwear heritage with Chicano style and contemporary streetwear.
However, the governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, has made a legal threat against the parties involved. At a press conference, he stated his intention to approach the community in Yalalág, a Zapotec community in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca, to file a report for identity theft. The community is known for its hand-woven huaraches, textiles, and other traditional crafts, and the complaint emphasizes concerns that the creators did not obtain consent from the community.
This is not the first time international fashion brands have been accused of cultural appropriation involving Indigenous Mexican designs. In 2022, Ralph Lauren apologized after being accused of plagiarizing Mexican textile designs, and several other brands, including Adidas, Shein, Isabel Marant, Zimmermann, Carolina Herrera, and Prada, have faced similar allegations.
Recurring incidents of cultural appropriation have raised concerns about power dynamics and the responsibility of brands to recognize and compensate Indigenous communities for the commercial use of their traditional designs and crafts. The Mexican government and local leaders have increasingly spoken out against these practices, demanding respect for Indigenous rights and cultural sovereignty.
The Ministry of Culture has argued that these practices represent both economic harm and "symbolic dispossession" of Indigenous identity and creativity. Chavarría, however, stated that he is proud to work with a company that respects and uplifts culture.
This issue in Mexico is part of a wider pattern where Indigenous cultural expressions are commodified by mainstream global fashion without proper permission, acknowledgement, or benefit to the original communities. The ongoing legal case against Adidas and Chavarría is likely to fuel the ongoing debate and push for greater respect for Indigenous rights in the fashion industry.
[1] "Adidas Accused of Cultural Appropriation in Mexico for 'Oaxaca Slip On' Shoe" - The Guardian, 2025. [2] "Mexico's Indigenous Communities Fight Back Against Cultural Appropriation in Fashion" - Vice, 2023. [3] "Global Fashion Brands Accused of Cultural Appropriation in Mexico" - BBC News, 2025. [4] "Prada Acknowledges Inspiration for Controversial Sandals and Seeks Dialogue with Local Artisan Communities" - Vogue, 2025.
- The ongoing legal case against Adidas and designer Willy Chavarría over the 'Oaxaca Slip-On' sandal highlights the larger issue of cultural appropriation in the fashion industry, as documented in articles such as "Adidas Accused of Cultural Appropriation in Mexico for 'Oaxaca Slip On' Shoe" by The Guardian in 2025.
- As a result of cultural appropriation involving Indigenous Mexican designs, the Mexican government and local leaders have been vocal in demanding respect for Indigenous rights and cultural sovereignty, as reported in "Mexico's Indigenous Communities Fight Back Against Cultural Appropriation in Fashion" by Vice in 2023.
- In addition to Adidas, several international fashion brands including Ralph Lauren, Shein, Isabel Marant, Zimmermann, Carolina Herrera, and Prada have faced allegations of cultural appropriation related to Indigenous Mexican designs, as indicated in "Global Fashion Brands Accused of Cultural Appropriation in Mexico" by BBC News in 2025.
- As part of the growing awareness and pushback against cultural appropriation, Prada has sought dialogue with local artisan communities and acknowledged their inspiration for controversial designs, as explained in "Prada Acknowledges Inspiration for Controversial Sandals and Seeks Dialogue with Local Artisan Communities" from Vogue in 2025.
- In addition to the economic harm, cultural appropriation represents "symbolic dispossession" of Indigenous identity and creativity, as argued by the Mexican Ministry of Culture, and continues to be a pressing concern in the realm of general-news, politics, business, finance, sports, culture, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and news about the broader society.
