Adidas Oaxaca sandal faces backlash

Mexican authorities and the Zapotec community accuse Adidas and Willy Chavarria of copying a traditional huarache design, prompting apologies.

Adidas Oaxaca sandal faces cultural appropriation backlash

Adidas released the Oaxaca Slip On, a black sandal with braided leather straps attached to a thick sole. The design closely mirrors huaraches made by Zapotec artisans in Oaxaca, especially in the town of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. Mexican authorities say the shoe copies a traditional style and they plan to tighten laws to protect Mexican designs.

Willy Chavarria apologized to the people of Oaxaca, saying the design was meant to honor the region but was not developed in direct partnership with the Oaxacan community. Adidas followed with its own apology and a pledge to repair the damage through respectful dialogue and future collaborations with Yalalag officials. The case adds to a broader debate about cultural ownership in global fashion.

The episode shows how quickly fashion borrows ideas and how little power local creators often have in these decisions. When a brand borrows a local craft, communities risk misrepresentation and loss of control. Apologies help, but lasting change will require formal partnerships, compensation, and clear processes for consent.

Chavarria has built a career around Mexican American themes, which adds a personal dimension to the dispute. If brands want to avoid backlash, they will need transparent methods for seeking consent, sharing credit, and ensuring fair benefits for the communities that inspire their products.

Highlights

The fashion world will watch how these apologies translate into real changes in practice.