Mexico's Culture Ministry accused American fashion house Carolina Herrera of "cultural appropriation," referring to the designs used in the latest Resort 2020 collection as being ones created by the country's indigenous communities.

The Ministry sent a letter to the company's founder, Herrera, and its creative director, Wes Gordon, asking the pair to "publicly explain on what basis it decided to make use of these cultural elements, whose origins are documented, and how this benefits the communities," Reuters reported.

"For many years we have been trying to stop big brands and designers, who, in this disrespectful manner, take elements of indigenous cultures without approaching the communities or working with them," a senator from the ruling National Regeneration Movement party, Susana Harp, said in a video posted on her Twitter feed accompanied by the hashtag #MéxicoSinPlagio -- "Mexico Without Plagiarism" to show their opposition to the brand.

"Inspired by the House spirit of alegría de vivir that is synonymous with the resort season, this collection is about visceral reactions of delight-eclectic patterns, unexpected silhouettes, pulsating energy," the collection’s description writes, noting that the Resort 2020 collection includes a number of colorful Mexican patterns and traditional flower designs.