French designer Christian Louboutin presented in May the Mexicaba collection, a limited edition (2,000 pcs) of bags made in collaboration with Maya Artisans of the Yucatan Peninsula. The capsule collection – followed by the homologous Africaba – offers an opportunity for the traditional Mexican mastery to emerge and the women involved to have a job opportunity. Mexicaba was a commercial success. Launched on May 3, it soon disappeared. Soon after, the controversy over some Latin American media broke out. It turned out that for the embroidery of a purse sold to the public at the price of about 1,300 euros, Mayan artisans would have paid a bribe of about 10 euros per piece. Sources close to the designer explained that that 10% of Mexicaba’s revenues would go to the Foundation that interceded between Louboutin and the Mexican communities. The quota will be used to fund initiatives that the crafts themselves will benefit. Likewise, the brand clarified that artisans were only asked to make embroidery with tools and fabrics provided by the brand. Italian laboratories produced leather inserts and then assembled in France. The kindest words – collected from the Mexican daily El Universal – come from the craftsmen themselves: “We made good money, thanks to God we had work and could contribute to the costs of our homes.”
Mexico, 10 euros for Louboutin handbags workers sold at 1,300
