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Adidas visits Indigenous Mexican town to apologize for sandal design
Adidas acknowledged discomfort caused by its 'Oaxaca Slip On' design and pledged future collaboration with Villa Hidalgo Yalalag to respect Indigenous cultural heritage and crafts.
- Adidas executives visited Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, Oaxaca, on August 21, 2025, to apologize for the 'Oaxaca Slip-On' shoe criticized as cultural appropriation.
- The visit followed a dispute mediated by the Mexican government after the shoe, designed by Mexican-American Willy Chavarria, resembled local traditional huarache sandals.
- At an outdoor event with Indigenous attire and traditional music, Adidas’s legal head Karen Gonzalez expressed regret, acknowledged discomfort caused, and announced future collaboration to respect cultural heritage.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized Adidas earlier this month and pledged to enforce heritage laws, stating, 'The heritage law must be complied with,' to protect Indigenous communities.
- The apology was accepted by Oaxaca’s Ministry of Culture as historic recognition, and Adidas’s commitment suggests stronger future corporate respect for Indigenous designs in Mexico.
49 Articles
49 Articles
Adidas apologises to Indigenous Mexicans
Adidas executives visited a small Indigenous town in the mountains of southern Mexico on Thursday to offer an apology over a sandal-inspired shoe design that Mexico's government had blasted as cultural appropriation. The German sportswear company sent representatives from its Mexican unit to Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, a town in Oaxaca state, to deliver the comments in person after issuing a written apology last week. The issue related to the "Oaxaca…
After the government of Oaxaca accused Adidas of plagiarizing the design of one of its traditional garments, the German sportswear company has publicly apologized. Adidas representatives acknowledged this Thursday in an event with members of the community of the Sierra de Juárez that the Oaxaca slip-on model was conceived taking as inspiration a design to the Zapotec people of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. “We understand that this situation may have ca…
Following criticism of a sandal design, sporting goods manufacturer Adidas has publicly requested forgiveness from indigenous representatives in South Mexico.
The "Oaxaca Slip-On", now removed from the sales platforms, were inspired by the "Huarach" sandals made in the town of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag.
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