HomeWorld'Illegal and immoral': Mexico accuses Ralph Lauren of plagiarizing indigenous motifs

‘Illegal and immoral’: Mexico accuses Ralph Lauren of plagiarizing indigenous motifs

According to the wife of the Mexican president, the patterns used in the clothing of the American brand correspond to designs from the communities of Contla (in the center of the country) and Saltillo (in the north).

The wife of Mexican President Beatriz Gutiérrez accused the American fashion giant Ralph Lauren on Thursday of having plagiarized, according to her, indigenous patterns for the making of one of her garments.

“Listen Ralph: we have noticed that you really like Mexican designs (…). However, by copying these designs you are plagiarizing, and as you know, plagiarizing is illegal and immoral”, writes the wife of President Andrés Manuel López. Obrador on her Instagram account.

A jacket that costs 300 dollars

Beatriz Gutierrez, who is a historian, accompanied her post with an image of a colorful jacket that clearly said “Ralph Lauren.” Listed on various websites as a “striped belted cardigan,” the garment costs an average of $300.

“I hope they make peace with the indigenous communities who do this work with love and non-profits and millionaires,” he adds.

Mexican copyright law stipulates that all works considered popular or artisanal must be respected and requires a clear acknowledgment of the indigenous community from which they originate in the case of commercial use.

several complaints

In 2021, Mexico had already filed a complaint against fashion companies, such as the Chinese company Shein, the Spanish company Inditex and the American companies Anthropologie and Patowl, for using Mexican designs in their clothing.

In 2020, Mexico also filed a complaint against French fashion designer Isabel Marant, who later apologized to the government and an indigenous community in Michoacán (west).

In 2019, the Ministry of Culture reported that the company of Carolina Herrera, a Venezuelan fashion designer based in the United States, had reproduced colorful embroidery from the community of Tenango (center).

Mexico has 56 ethnic groups, which gives it great wealth in terms of handicrafts, especially textiles and embroidery.

Author: GA with AFP
Source: BFM TV

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