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Mexican Women Accuse NY Designer of 'Pinching' Their Patterns

Published June 27th, 2019 - 06:46 GMT

The women embroiderers of the remote Mexican mountain village of Tenango de Doria made worldwide headlines this week when their government went to war with an American designer for "plagiarizing" their patterns.

Wes Gordon, the artistic director of the New York label found himself accused of cultural appropriation.

The women of the indigenous community in the east of the country told how they felt cheated of their traditional motifs where "each element has a personal, family or community meaning".

Mexico has also previously protested about Zara, Mango and Michael Kors designs.

Some of the country's leaders now want to toughen a copyright law that already protects traditional patterns to punish "plagiarism that different indigenous peoples have suffered".

 

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Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, shows one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, shows one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, works in one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, works in one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

The Mexican government asked famous Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera to explain her decision to use textile designs from three Mexican indigenous communities in six pieces of her Resort 2020 collection. Pedro PARDO / AFP

The Mexican government asked famous Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera to explain her decision to use textile designs from three Mexican indigenous communities in six pieces of her Resort 2020 collection. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, embroiders one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, embroiders one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, 59, of the Otomi ethnic group, stands outside her house in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, 59, of the Otomi ethnic group, stands outside her house in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

View of the facade of a bullding in Tenango de Doria decorated with designs by San Nicolas artisans, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

View of the facade of a bullding in Tenango de Doria decorated with designs by San Nicolas artisans, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Josefina Jose Tavera, 87, walks in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Josefina Jose Tavera, 87, walks in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, shows one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, works in one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
The Mexican government asked famous Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera to explain her decision to use textile designs from three Mexican indigenous communities in six pieces of her Resort 2020 collection. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, embroiders one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, 59, of the Otomi ethnic group, stands outside her house in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
View of the facade of a bullding in Tenango de Doria decorated with designs by San Nicolas artisans, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Josefina Jose Tavera, 87, walks in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, shows one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, shows one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, works in one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, works in one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
The Mexican government asked famous Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera to explain her decision to use textile designs from three Mexican indigenous communities in six pieces of her Resort 2020 collection. Pedro PARDO / AFP
The Mexican government asked famous Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera to explain her decision to use textile designs from three Mexican indigenous communities in six pieces of her Resort 2020 collection. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, embroiders one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, of the Otomi ethnic group, embroiders one of her designs at her workshop in San Nicolas village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Oliver Teodoro Lopez, shows one of his designs at his workshop in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, 59, of the Otomi ethnic group, stands outside her house in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan Glafira Candelaria Jose, 59, of the Otomi ethnic group, stands outside her house in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
View of the facade of a bullding in Tenango de Doria decorated with designs by San Nicolas artisans, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
View of the facade of a bullding in Tenango de Doria decorated with designs by San Nicolas artisans, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Josefina Jose Tavera, 87, walks in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP
Mexican artisan of the Otomi ethnic group Josefina Jose Tavera, 87, walks in San Nicolas Village, in Tenango de Doria, Hidalgo state, Mexico. Pedro PARDO / AFP

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