Mexico has accused global fashion brands Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl of cultural appropriation, reports Reuters. The country feels that the brands used patterns from indigenous Mexican groups in their designs, without any acknowledgment or any benefit reaching the communities.
Mexico’s ministry of culture has said that it has sent letters signed by Mexican culture minister Alejandra Frausto to all the three companies, asking each of them for a “public explanation on what basis it could privatise collective property”.
The ministry said Zara, owned by Inditex, has used a pattern distinctive to the indigenous Mixteca community of San Juan Colorado in the southern state of Oaxaca. Inditex is the world’s largest clothing retailer.
In a statement sent to Reuters, Inditex has said: “The design in question was in no way intentionally borrowed from or influenced by the artistry of the Mixtec people of Mexico.”
The culture ministry feels that Anthropologie, owned by URBN, used a pattern of the indigenous Mixe community of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, and Patowl copied a pattern from the indigenous Zapoteco community in San Antonino Castillo Velasco, both in the state of Oaxaca. The report adds that the last two companies mentioned were yet to issue responses.
One size fits all
The look of the moment is the no-fuss minimum-care one. And it is being extended to clothes: to the oversized dress, or one-size-fits-all clothing in general, says Vogue. “...which literally gives you space to ease back into spending more time outdoors and in public settings, comfortably. This maximised and quite stylish aesthetic is an easy and chic way to make your summer debut IRL,” adds the magazine. In this part of the world, when we emerge into RL. But good to know that trending fashions are less fussy.
Ordinary rocks
The Ordinary is the world’s most sought after skincare brand, reports www.premiumbeautynews.com. Now part of the Estee Lauder companies, it has reached the top in just a few years. Research reveals that The Ordinary has topped the list of most searched skincare brands in 41 countries, ahead of Dove, Bioderma and CeraVe.
Analysing search data for more than 70 major skincare brands worldwide, the website Skincare Hero says The Ordinary is far ahead of major global brands like Dove (ranking first in 9 countries), Bioderma (ranking first in 6 countries), and CeraVe (ranking first in 5 countries), says the report. The Ordinary is yet to turn 10.
