Ralph Lauren has issued an apology after the wife of Mexico’s president accused the premium American clothing brand of plagiarizing indigenous patterns, which she described as an appropriation of the pre-Hispanic cultures’ work.
Beatriz Gutierrez posted a photo of a $360 Ralph Lauren cardigan featuring bright indigenous themes, which she said was an appropriation of the designs of the Mexican Conta and Saltillio peoples.
Gutierrez, a writer and researcher, stated in an Instagram post, “Hey Ralph (Lauren): we’ve already figured out that you adore Mexican designs.”
“However, by replicating these patterns you are committing plagiarism, which is unlawful and immoral,” added Gutierrez, who is married to Mexico’s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and is the director of the committee for cultural affairs.
Gutierrez continued, attributing the designs to the indigenous tribes of Contla and Saltillo, “Hopefully you repair the damage to the native communities that do this job out of love and not for profit.”
Ralph Lauren told Reuters that it was’surprised’ to see that the product was still being marketed after sending an instruction to remove it from its channels months earlier.
It added in a statement, “We are extremely sorry this occurred and, as always, we are eager to debate about how we can do better.”
Following the summer 2023 season, the U.S. fashion retailer has vowed to manufacture all new products with indigenous designs utilizing a ‘credit and partnership’ approach.
DailyMail.com also discovered that the Ralph Lauren cardigan was available on the UK website of Zalando for £349.99 ($382.75).
Since assuming office in 2018, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has undertaken a vigorous drive to restore remnants of Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage, including filing complaints against auction houses in the United States and Europe and reclaiming scores of Mexican antiques.
In July, the Mexican government also demanded an explanation for Chinese fashion store Shein’s usage of indigenous Mayan motifs in one of its garments, prompting Shein to withdraw the garment from its website.
The government has filed similar allegations against Louis Vuitton of France, Carolina Herrera of Venezuela, Zara of Spain, and Anthopologie of the United States.