Mexico says fashion brands steal patterns

MEXICO CITY: Mexico has accused international fashion brands Zara, Anthropologie, and Patowl of cultural appropriation, saying they used patterns from indigenous Mexican groups in their designs without any benefit to the communities.

Mexico’s Ministry of Culture said in that it had sent letters signed by Mexico’s Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto to all three global companies, asking each for a “public explanation on what basis it could privatise collective property.” The ministry said Zara used a pattern distinctive to the indigenous Mixteca community of San Juan Colorado in the southern state of Oaxaca.