A group of women accused that the company appropriated original elements without their authorization.
OAXACA, (November 23, 2021).- A group of artisans from the Mazateca area, in Oaxaca, accused the Levi’s México company of appropriating designs and hand embroidery that they used to launch their winter collection.
Through social networks, those affected demanded the intervention of the federal and state governments to sanction the abuse committed by the clothing company, as they indicated that they committed a cultural appropriation by replicating their designs without giving credit to the artisans who embroidered the pieces. in his collection “Draco”, which was presented on November 13th.
The artisan collective, called Las Mujeres de Texturas de Oaxaca reproached that Levi’s and other businessmen made invisible the people and communities who embroidered the products offered by the store.
It should be remembered that in August of this year, the Oaxaca Congress approved the amendment to the fourth paragraph of Article 16 of the local Constitution with the aim of preventing plagiarism of the designs of the Oaxacan collective culture.
#estoesoriginal
— Texturas de Oaxaca (@TexturasO) November 18, 2021
Las campanas de #original no repican para todas y de cómo @LEVIS se apropia indebidamente de los textiles de la #Mazateca Baja@latinamericanah @sikuaa @YasnayaEG @DianaManzo31 @pedromatias81 @SusanaHarp @PortalMazatecos @TajeewDR @patibris @sillovierahoy pic.twitter.com/ngJUPC1gYK
With the reform, it was approved to punish the looting of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of indigenous or Afro-Mexican peoples and communities, protecting collective intellectual property and the elements that comprise it.
However, peoples from various regions and ethnic areas of Oaxaca have accused foreign designers who, despite the laws, continue to plagiarize graphic elements and patterns representative of their identity, therefore, they have requested protection from the Mexican authorities.
In addition, the group of Las Mujeres de Texturas de Oaxaca also expressed their dissatisfaction with the federal government because they were not allowed to participate in the event called “Original”, which took place from November 18 to 21 at the Los Pinos Cultural Complex in Mexico City
The women indicated that there was no public call for artisan collectives to present their work and participate in the meeting.
Meanwhile, indigenous groups and activists condemned that the Oaxaca city council had allowed the installation of a Levi’s store in the historic center area, when, previously, the plastic artist Francisco Toledo demonstrated against the installation of a McDonald’s store and this time all the facilities for the clothing store were granted.
Elected mayor of Jalapa de Díaz, Oaxaca, asks to defend embroidery against plagiarism
For her part, Fernanda Barbosa, president-elect of Jalapa de Díaz, asked the population to defend the embroideries of plagiarism by transnational companies.
“THE BIRDS AND THE FLOWERS ARE CHARACTERISTIC ICONS OF THE EMBROIDERY OF JALAPA DE DÍAZ, WHERE THE MYTHICAL NATURE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT IS EXPRESSED.”
Fernanda Barbosa
“The predominant economic activity in this municipality has crossed borders and has even reached the big screen, as in the case of the Disney movie Coco,” She added.
For this reason, she rejected the way in which Levi’s “arbitrarily” claimed the identity, history, and clothing characteristic of the Mazatlecos of Jalapa de Días.
“I CALL UPON THE ARTISANS INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND YOUTH OF OUR MUNICIPALITY, TO ACCOMPANY ME AT THE MONUMENT TO THE MAZATEC WOMAN, (…) AND MAKE A STATEMENT TO DEMAND THE LEVI’S BRAND, FOR THE INCONSIDERATION, VIOLATION AND APPROPRIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE RIGHTS “.
Levi’s closes branch in Oaxaca
Faced with the claims for the plagiarism of indigenous designs and embroidery in the Mazateca area, the Levi’s store in the historic center of Oaxaca was ordered to close, justifying that an inventory would be carried out.
Source: Milenio
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