Whoops?
If you lost the plot, the controversy in fashion is now all under Willy Chavarria, whose new adidas “Oaxaca Slip-On” has drawn backlash in Mexico for cultural appropriation. Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara accused adidas of replicating the traditional Mexican sandal silhouette without permission and without crediting its Indigenous origins.
Both Chavarria and adidas have since apologised. In a statement, Chavarria said:
“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 intention was always to honour 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 — it’s living culture, its people, and its history.”
