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Prada visits Kolhapur amid cultural appropriation row
During the two-day trip, the fashion company’s team visited manufacturing units and the chappal market, collected leather samples from artisans, and held a courtesy meeting with the district collector.
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Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 17, Jul 2025
- 00:52 EDT
- 35
A team of four technical experts from Prada. / X/@dilbag_koundal
A four-member technical team from the Italian fashion house Prada visited Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on July 15 and 16 to meet with local artisans and examine the traditional techniques behind Kolhapuri chappals. The visit, widely circulated in videos on social media platforms, comes in the wake of backlash over footwear showcased at Prada’s Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in Milan, which closely resembled the handcrafted Indian sandal.
ALSO READ: Prada finally admits 'leather sandals' are Kolhapuri 'chappal'
During the two-day trip, the team visited manufacturing units and the chappal market, collected leather samples from artisans, and held a courtesy meeting with the Kolhapur district collector. The delegation included senior members from Prada’s footwear division and two external consultants.
The controversy began earlier this month when Indian social media users pointed out the striking similarity between Prada’s new T-strap sandals and the Kolhapuri chappal, a culturally significant leather sandal made in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Critics accused Prada of cultural appropriation and failing to credit Indian craftsmanship.
ALSO READ: Prada’s Kolhapuri Chappal Controversy: A Familiar Echo for the Diaspora
In response to the growing outrage, the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) sent a formal letter to Prada. The company issued an apology and acknowledged that the sandals “were inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear with a centuries-old heritage”.
“We are committed to responsible design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities — as we have done in past collections — to ensure rightful recognition of their craft,” Prada said in a letter to MACCIA.
The company also clarified that the sandals shown at the fashion show are still in the early design phase and are not yet confirmed for commercial production.
Meanwhile, a public interest litigation filed against Prada at the Bombay High Court, citing the chappal’s Geographical Indication (GI) status, was dismissed on July 16. India granted Kolhapuri chappals GI protection in 2019, covering eight districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Intellectual property experts noted that while Prada has the legal right to sell such sandals if sourced from GI-certified areas and properly credited, the lack of early acknowledgment created an ethical issue.
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