For the new model Air Force 1 Puerto-Rico, a special design was developed with national patterns.
Using national motives in promoting products can be a good idea. The main thing is not to make such a gross mistake as Nike did.
A well-known sportswear manufacturer decided to use national motives to promote the new Air Force 1 Puerto-Rico sneakers. A model dedicated to the national days of Puerto Rico was presented and decorated, as Nike thought, with the national patterns of this country. But it turned out that the pattern involved belongs to a completely different part of the world. The so-called. the mola pattern is a traditional art form of the Guna (or Kuna) people living in Panama and the Caribbean. These multi-colored and complex images reflect the worldview of a people of approximately 50,000 people.
As often happens in such cases, the error was noticed after the new model was presented to the public. After the representatives of the Guna people opposed the sale of sneakers, and even demanded compensation for the illegal use of their motives, Nike refused from work in this area.
The silly mistake could have been easily avoided if someone from the Nike team had done more research on the issue. And for this it was not even necessary to apply directly to Puerto Ricans or Panamanians. It was enough just to delve a little deeper into the subject or to turn to a specialist familiar with the culture of the indigenous peoples of Latin America.
