Italian luxury footwear Prada is preparing to release a collection of limited-collection footwear inspired by Kolhapuri chappals, based on traditional footwear in India, marking a recent cultural appropriation scandal as an organised partnership. Backlash against the brand was also experienced in early 2021 when it released toe-ring sandals in its Spring/Summer 2026 preview that were very similar to Kolhapuris, which carries a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Craft and trade unions had criticised the brand on the fact that they did not recognize the Indian origin of the design, and also Bollywood personalities such as Kareena Kapoor expressed their views on the fact that they were not credited.
Prada, in its turn, has recently signed an agreement with two government-sponsored organisations in Maharashtra, LIDCOM, and Karnataka, LIDKAR, both of which deal with the promotion of leather craftsmanship. The two countries agreed to work together in an official and culturally appropriate partnership through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai. According to the agreement, the sandals will be crafted by Indian artisans based on traditional techniques which are specific to the areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka where Kolhapuri are made.
According to Lorenzo Bertelli, the Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Prada, the company intends to launch 2,000 pairs of shoes first. They will have prices of approximately 800 euros (around 84,000 rupees). The exclusive line will be launched worldwide in February 2026 in 40 Prada stores and the online brand of the company.
The partnership will establish long-term gains to the local artisans besides the product launch. The agreement involves a three-year training program to better the skill development where craftsmen are also trained in both India and at the Prada Academy, Italy. It is hoped that through this programme, the artisans will be able to adjust to the standards of the luxury market and maintain their old practices.
By doing so, Prada is trying to turn a negative publicity into a culture appreciation and economic elephant with Indian heritage craftsmanship merged with the high-end fashion.
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