A Response to the Adidas x Willy Echeverría Controversy
A Collaboration that Sparked a Debate
Recently, Adidas launched a collaboration with Chicano designer Willy Echeverría. Among the collection was the Oaxaca Slip-On, a huarache-inspired shoe. On the surface, it looked like a celebration of Latin design — but the reality struck a nerve.
The shoes were manufactured in China, carried the name Oaxaca despite featuring embroidery rooted in Michoacán, and involved no Mexican artisans in their production. What could have been an homage instead became a case study in cultural appropriation, igniting conversations across media and social networks.
The Huarache Is Not a Trend
The huarache is not just footwear. It is living heritage — woven with Indigenous roots, ancestral techniques, and centuries of cultural memory. Reducing it to a “trend” strips it of context and value.
Fashion has the power to elevate, but also the responsibility to respect. The huarache doesn’t need to be “reimagined” for global appeal; it deserves to be honored for what it already is: a craft of collective identity and resilience.
Espíritu’s Path: From the Origin to the World
At Espíritu, we walk a different path. We are an artisan workshop in Sahuayo, Michoacán — the birthplace of the traditional huarache.
From here, we design starting from the origin, preserving its essence while modernizing it for contemporary lifestyles. Our goal is not to detach the craft from its roots, but to refine and share it authentically with the world.
What We Do Differently
- Fair wages
- Dignified work culture
- Reviving techniques at risk of disappearing
- Designs rooted in local artisanal heritage
Why It Matters
When consumers buy fashion without knowing where it comes from, they risk fueling cultural extractivism — a cycle where aesthetics are celebrated but the originators are erased.
Choosing Espíritu means investing in the dignity of a craft that continues to fight for its place in modern culture. It means walking not just in shoes, but in stories — carrying forward the memory of a tradition that deserves global recognition without losing its authenticity.
Our Commitment
Espíritu: Woven at the origin. Exported with dignity.
So the world walks with footprints from Mexico.
