Italian
Fashion’s recurring tendency to draw from a culture by extracting ideas and creativity
Mexico – Adidas has been accused of cultural appropriation over its new sandal model, the Oaxaca Slip-On. The German company immediately came under fire from Mexican deputy Isaías Carranza, who pointed out that the design directly referenced a traditional sandal worn by the people of Villa Hidalgo Yalang in the Oaxaca region.
Curiously — though not entirely — the sandal in question was designed by Willy Chavarria, a U.S. designer of Mexican descent. According to some interpretations, still to be clarified, the new model was not intended as plagiarism but rather as a genuine homage to his homeland. Yet this was not enough for Oaxaca governor Salomón Jara, who reacted strongly and threatened legal action. Shortly thereafter, Adidas issued a public apology, distancing itself from any preconceived misconduct and expressing regret.
This is certainly not the first case to make headlines. In the past, brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Zimmermann, Carolina Herrera, Shein, and Zara have been at the center of similar controversies. Even Prada was involved in a dispute, in that instance tied to Indian culture. These are only a few examples — the list is long, and here the concept matters more than the names.
Cultural appropriation becomes real and problematic when a dominant culture borrows from and exploits the history of a minority culture for profit — unlike cultural appreciation, which is based on collaboration and mutual learning.
In reality, the line between the two can be thin. Yet the willingness of cultures to come together and enrich each other could be the key to avoiding disrespectful imitations — instead raising a cultural manifesto of inspiration and intercultural exchange, rooted in respect for identity and original meaning.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Zero Biscuit by Mauro Lama
