"Mexico wants Adidas to pay up after Mexican-American designer launches Indigenous-inspired shoe", 10 August 2025

...Chavarria, who has been hailed in the United States 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," Mexico 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 that Adidas had contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss "restitution to the people who were plagiarized"...

Adidas did not respond to a request for comment...