The head of a Mexican cultural commission and wife of the Mexican president on Thursday accused US fashion brand Ralph Lauren of copying indigenous designs.
“Hey Ralph, we’ve already noticed that you really like Mexican designs,” Beatriz Gutierrez wrote on social media. “But by copying these designs you are committing plagiarism and as you know plagiarism is illegal and immoral,” added Gutierrez, who is married to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
She posted a picture of a jacket with the Ralph Lauren label, which she says is similar in design to that of the Mexican communities of Contla and Saltillo.
“At least admit it. And hopefully you’re repaying the original communities who do this work with love and not for millions in profits,” added Gutierrez , a journalist and writer.
Zara, Mango and Shein: Ralph Lauren is not an isolated case
Mexico regularly denounces what it describes as plagiarism by foreign designers of the motifs, embroidery and colors of its indigenous communities.
The Latin American country has already filed complaints against major clothing brands such as Zara, Mango and Shein.
In 2020, French designer Isabel Marant apologized for using the traditional patterns of an indigenous community in western Mexico.(AFP)
This translated and edited post previously appeared on FashionUnited.com