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| Willy Chavarria sorry after Adidas shoe cultural appropriation row | Willy Chavarria sorry after Adidas shoe cultural appropriation row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US fashion designer Willy Chavarria at The Mark Hotel before the 2025 Met Gala | US fashion designer Willy Chavarria at The Mark Hotel before the 2025 Met Gala |
| US fashion designer Willy Chavarria has apologised after a shoe he created in collaboration with Adidas Originals was criticised for "cultural appropriation". | US fashion designer Willy Chavarria has apologised after a shoe he created in collaboration with Adidas Originals was criticised for "cultural appropriation". |
| The Oaxaca Slip-On was inspired by traditional leather sandals known as huaraches made by Indigenous artisans in Mexico. | The Oaxaca Slip-On was inspired by traditional leather sandals known as huaraches made by Indigenous artisans in Mexico. |
| The Mexican president was among those who spoke out against the footwear, which was reportedly made in China without consultation or credit to the communities who originated the design. | The Mexican president was among those who spoke out against the footwear, which was reportedly made in China without consultation or credit to the communities who originated the design. |
| Chavarria said in a statement sent to the BBC: "I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community." The BBC has contacted Adidas for comment. | Chavarria said in a statement sent to the BBC: "I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community." The BBC has contacted Adidas for comment. |
| Cultural appropriation is defined as "the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, of one people or society by members of a typically more dominant people or society". | Cultural appropriation is defined as "the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, of one people or society by members of a typically more dominant people or society". |
| Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum told a press conference: "Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from Indigenous communities." | Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum told a press conference: "Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from Indigenous communities." |
| She added: "We are looking at the legal part to be able to support them." | She added: "We are looking at the legal part to be able to support them." |
| Adidas had contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss "restitution to the people who were plagiarised", Mexico's deputy culture minister Marina Nunez added. | Adidas had contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss "restitution to the people who were plagiarised", Mexico's deputy culture minister Marina Nunez added. |
| Traditional huaraches displayed at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico | Traditional huaraches displayed at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico |
| Promotional images of the black moulded open-toe footwear have been taken down from the brand's social media accounts as well as Chavarria's. | Promotional images of the black moulded open-toe footwear have been taken down from the brand's social media accounts as well as Chavarria's. |
| In his statement, Chavarria said he wanted "to speak from the heart about the Oaxaca slip-on I created with Adidas". | In his statement, Chavarria said he wanted "to speak from the heart about the Oaxaca slip-on I created with Adidas". |
| "The intention was always to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities - a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me. The name Oaxaca is not just a word - its living culture, its people, and its history." | "The intention was always to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities - a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me. The name Oaxaca is not just a word - its living culture, its people, and its history." |
| He went on to say he was "deeply sorry" he did not work with the Oaxacan community on the design. | He went on to say he was "deeply sorry" he did not work with the Oaxacan community on the design. |
| "This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve," he added. | "This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve," he added. |
| "I know love is not just given - it is earned through action." | "I know love is not just given - it is earned through action." |
| Chavarria was Calvin Klein's senior vice president of design until 2024 and is the founder and chief creative officer of his eponymous label. | Chavarria was Calvin Klein's senior vice president of design until 2024 and is the founder and chief creative officer of his eponymous label. |
| Adidas has not responded to the BBC's request for a comment. | Adidas has not responded to the BBC's request for a comment. |
| The Associated Press reported that Adidas responded to Mexican authorities in a letter on Friday. | The Associated Press reported that Adidas responded to Mexican authorities in a letter on Friday. |
| The company reportedly said it "deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexico's Indigenous people and recognises the relevance" of criticisms, and requested a sit-down to talk about how to "repair the damage" to Indigenous communities. |