Oaxaca Governor Threatens Legal Action After Willy Chavarría Huarache Backlash
Credit: Adidas Originals
The Oaxaca government is allegedly set to take legal action against Adidas and Willy Chavarría, and the legal action could also include representatives of the Yalalag indigenous community.
The news comes after a collaboration between Adidas and Willy Chavarría, the “Oaxaca Slip On” footwear was presented in Puerto Rico. The shoe incorporates elements of the traditional Yalalteco huarache.
Local representative Isaías Carranza called on Indigenous communities to defend their cultural heritage, during a regular session of the Oaxaca Congress. Carranza said he doesn’t know if Chavarría has the necessary permits or authorizations from the artisans of the Yalálag community, a town in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca.
“As a representative of this community, whose crafts have been affected today, and as a member of the Permanent Commission on Culture and the Arts, I call for an investigation into this probable act of cultural appropriation,” he said.
The governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, confirmed that the state government is set to proceed legally not just due to the design of the huaraches, but also because of the use of the name Oaxaca. According to the governor, legal action will extend to Chavarría. He also said he would contact the Yalalta community to proceed in coordination.
“We will approach our brothers and sisters in Yalalta to file a complaint for identity theft,” he said. “They are very beautiful huaraches, belonging to the community of Yalalág, and also regarding the use of the name “Oaxaca” for these huaraches.”
Chavarría’s new design was presented at the Art Museum in Puerto Rico. The shoe is said to be a mixture of the “silhouette of the traditional Mexican huarache with Adidas’ urban aesthetic, utilizing premium leather, classic fabric, and a high-top sneaker-style sole.”
