FROM NBC NEWS: Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches.
The controversy has fueled accusations of cultural appropriation by the footwear brand, with authorities saying this is not the first time traditional Mexican handicrafts have been copied. Citing these concerns, local authorities have asked Adidas to withdraw the shoe model.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Adidas was already in talks with authorities in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to provide “compensation for the people who were plagiarized,” and that her government was preparing legal reforms to prevent the copying of Mexican handicrafts.
The design at the center of the controversy is the “Oaxaca Slip-On,” a sandal created by U.S. designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals. The sandals feature thin leather straps braided in a style that is unmistakably similar to the traditional Mexican huaraches. Instead of flat leather soles, the Adidas shoes tout a more chunky, sports shoe sole.
Adidas’ design incorporates elements of Zapotec cultural heritage in Oaxaca, according to the report. Mexican handicrafts employ half a million people and contribute 10% to the GDP of states like Oaxaca.
Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches. Details: https://t.co/aFl63X7lJB pic.twitter.com/FR7BB5wBEE
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 10, 2025
Mexican authorities accuse Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design https://t.co/WoTRneEFsG
— POLITICO (@politico) August 10, 2025
Mexican authorities have accused Adidas of plagiarizing Mexican artisans with a new sandal design similar to Indigenous huaraches.https://t.co/ss1GY7O4nd
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) August 10, 2025
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