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Ralph Lauren apologizes after Mexico president’s wife accuses US fashion giant of ‘plagiarism’ by usurping indigenous designs from the country’s pre-Hispanic cultures for a $360 cardigan
- Beatriz Gutierrez said $360 Ralph Lauren vest with colorful indigenous motifs appropriated designs from Conta and Saltillio peoples in Mexico
- Gutierrez accused brand of ‘plagiarising’ by including designs
- Clothing brand apologized, saying it was ‘surprised’ to hear the product was on sale
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Ralph Lauren has apologized after the wife of the president of Mexico accused the luxury American clothing brand of plagiarizing indigenous designs, which she described as an appropriation of the work of the country’s pre-Hispanic cultures.
Beatriz Gutierrez posted a photo of a $360 Ralph Lauren cardigan with colorful indigenous motifs, which she said appropriated the designs of the Conta and Saltillio peoples of Mexico.
“Hey Ralph (Lauren): We already realized you really like Mexican designs,” Gutierrez, a writer and researcher, said in an Instagram post.
“But by copying these designs you are committing plagiarism, which is illegal and immoral,” added Gutierrez, who is married to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and heads a cultural affairs committee.
“Hopefully you will repair the damage done to the indigenous communities who do this work with love and not for profit,” added Gutierrez, crediting the designs to the indigenous communities of Contla and Saltillo.
Ralph Lauren has apologized after the wife of Mexican President Beatriz Gutierrez (pictured) accused the luxury American clothing brand of plagiarizing indigenous designs, which she described as an appropriation of the work of the country’s pre-Hispanic cultures.
Beatriz Gutierrez posted a photo of a $360 Ralph Lauren cardigan with colorful indigenous motifs, which she said appropriated the designs of the Conta and Saltillio peoples of Mexico
“Hey Ralph (Lauren): We already realized you really like Mexican designs,” Gutierrez, a writer and researcher, said in an Instagram post. “But by copying these designs you are committing plagiarism, which is illegal and immoral.”
Ralph Lauren told Reuters he was “surprised” to learn the product was still being sold, after issuing a directive to remove it from his channels after discovering it several months earlier.
“We are deeply sorry that this has happened and, as always, we are open to a dialogue on how we can do better,” the statement said.
The US fashion retailer has promised that all new products with native designs will be made under a “credit and collaboration” model after the 2023 summer season.
DailyMail.com also found that the Ralph Lauren vest was selling on Zalando’s UK online site for £349.99 ($389.75).
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador with his wife Beatriz Gutierrez in Mexico City
Since taking office in 2018, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched an intense campaign to reclaim remnants of Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage, including filing complaints against auction houses in the United States and Europe, and recovering dozens of Mexican antiques.
In July, the Mexican government asked Chinese fashion retailer Shein to explain the use of indigenous Mayan elements in one of its garments, causing the garment to be removed from its website.
The government has filed similar complaints against France’s Louis Vuitton, Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera, Spanish Zara and US retailer Anthopologie.