Ralph Lauren apologizes to Mexico for plagiarizing indigenous designs for its clothing

MADRID, 22 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The American fashion brand Ralph Lauren has issued an apology to Mexico on Friday after the country's first lady accused the company of plagiarizing indigenous designs in its garments and marketing them without authorization.

The company has assured in a statement that it is surprised to learn that there are still products with indigenous motifs, detailing that months ago it ordered the withdrawal of one of its articles with these designs from all its sales channels when it discovered that it was on its product poster. .

For this reason, he has stressed that he has initiated "an urgent audit" to determine how the article to which the Mexican first lady refers came to make sure that it is eliminated "immediately."

"In June, we announced that any new products featuring traditional Indigenous design motifs after our 2023 summer season will be created under a credit and collaboration model, which we are testing through our Artist-in-Residence program with the intention of scaling it up." in the future," Ralph Lauren announced in his letter.

"As we continue this effort, we are deepening our mandatory cultural awareness trainings and continuing to expand our work with indigenous communities. We approach this journey with humility and, above all, with dignity and respect for indigenous communities." company.

In a post on Instagram, the first lady of Mexico, Beatriz Gutiérrez, accused the fashion brand on Thursday of plagiarizing indigenous designs to allegedly market them without authorization, a fact that she described as "appropriation of the work of pre-Hispanic cultures."

"Hey, Ralph, we have already realized that you really like Mexican designs, especially those that make ancestral cultures that preserve the textile tradition. However, when you copy these designs, you incur plagiarism," Gutiérrez asserted, showing a photo of a coat with colored motifs.

In her complaint, the also honorary president of the Historical and Cultural Memory Advisory Council of Mexico has warned the American brand that plagiarism "is illegal and immoral", for which she urged the company to recognize it.

"Hopefully you repair the damage to the original communities that do this work with love and not for millionaire profit," the Mexican first lady stressed.