Willy Chavarria Sorry after Adidas Shoe Cultural Appropriation Row

American fashion designer Willy Chavarria apologized after a shoe he created in collaboration with Adidas Originals was criticized for “cultural appropriation”.

The Slip-on Oaxaca was inspired by traditional leather sandals called Huaraches made by Aboriginal craftsmen in Mexico.

The Mexican President was one of those who spoke against the shoes, which would have been made in China without consultation or credit to the communities that created the design.

Chavarria said in a press release sent to the BBC: “I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriate in this design and not developed in direct and significant partnership with the Oaxacan community.” The BBC contacted Adidas to comment.

Cultural appropriation is defined as “unrecognized or inappropriate adoption of customs, practices, ideas, a people or a society by members of a people or a typically more dominant society”.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, told a press conference: “Large companies often take products, ideas and conceptions of Aboriginal communities.”

She added: “We are considering the legal part to be able to support them.”

Adidas had contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss “the restitution to the plagiarized people,” added the Minister of Culture of Mexico, Marina Nunez.

Promotional images of open -molded open shoes have been removed from the brand’s social media accounts as well as Chavarria.

In his statement, Chavarria said he wanted to “talk about the heart of the Slip-on d’Oaxaca that 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 inspired me. The name Oaxaca is not only a word – its living culture, its people and its history.”

He continued by saying that he was “deeply sorry” that he did not work with the Oaxacan community on design.

“This does not deserve the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its inhabitants deserve,” he added.

“I know that love is not only given – it is won by action.”

Chavarria was the main vice-president of Calvin Klein’s design until 2024 and is the founder and director of the creation of his eponymous label.

Adidas did not respond to the BBC comment request.

The Associated Press reported that Adidas responded to the Mexican authorities on Friday in a letter.

Society would have declared that it “deeply values the cultural richness of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and recognizes the relevance” of criticism, and asking for a seat to speak of how to “repair damage” to indigenous communities.

The fashion brand like boys has been accused of cultural credits for using Cornrow wigs on white models in 2020.