The Mexican government has accused designer Carolina Herrera of cultural appropriation in her latest range.
The designer's website says the Resort 2020 collection "takes on the playful and colourful mood of a Latin holiday".
But Mexico's culture secretary has written to the fashion house complaining about the use of patterns from indigenous communities.
A spokesman for Ms Herrera, who was born in Venezuela, said the brand recognises Mexican artisans' work.
The spokesman added this particular collection was inspired "by the culture's rich colours and artisanal techniques", according to AP news agency.
What does the letter say?
In an unusual step, Mexico's culture secretary Alejandra Frausto sent a letter of complaint to both Ms Herrera and the fashion house's creative director, Wes Gordon.
According to Spanish language newspaper El Pais, Ms Frausto told the designers that some of the patterns used in the collection are unique to certain regions of Mexico and their indigenous peoples, and asked whether these communities would benefit in any way from the sale of the clothes.
She then described the significance of some of the patterns, and asked the designers for a public explanation for how they came to use them.
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Ms Frausto gives the example of one long white dress with animal and floral prints on it, and says that its embroidery comes from the community of Tenango de Doria in Hidalgo.
She also took issue with two black dresses embroidered with bright flowers, which is typical of artisans from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and another dress that is based on a sarape – a shawl or blanket – from Saltillo.
"In these embroideries is the history of the community itself, and each element has a personal, family and community meaning," Ms Frausto said.
This intervention also comes just weeks afteRead More – Source
The Mexican government has accused designer Carolina Herrera of cultural appropriation in her latest range.
The designer's website says the Resort 2020 collection "takes on the playful and colourful mood of a Latin holiday".
But Mexico's culture secretary has written to the fashion house complaining about the use of patterns from indigenous communities.
A spokesman for Ms Herrera, who was born in Venezuela, said the brand recognises Mexican artisans' work.
The spokesman added this particular collection was inspired "by the culture's rich colours and artisanal techniques", according to AP news agency.
What does the letter say?
In an unusual step, Mexico's culture secretary Alejandra Frausto sent a letter of complaint to both Ms Herrera and the fashion house's creative director, Wes Gordon.
According to Spanish language newspaper El Pais, Ms Frausto told the designers that some of the patterns used in the collection are unique to certain regions of Mexico and their indigenous peoples, and asked whether these communities would benefit in any way from the sale of the clothes.
She then described the significance of some of the patterns, and asked the designers for a public explanation for how they came to use them.
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A post shared by GUILLERMO FONSECA (@fashiontheorist) on
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Ms Frausto gives the example of one long white dress with animal and floral prints on it, and says that its embroidery comes from the community of Tenango de Doria in Hidalgo.
She also took issue with two black dresses embroidered with bright flowers, which is typical of artisans from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and another dress that is based on a sarape – a shawl or blanket – from Saltillo.
"In these embroideries is the history of the community itself, and each element has a personal, family and community meaning," Ms Frausto said.
This intervention also comes just weeks afteRead More – Source
