Italian luxury fashion brand Prada broke the silence on the controversy on the controversy on the controversy started on the inclusion of shoes inspired by Kolhapuri chappal in his spring/summer 2026 male collection. Open leg sandals offered on 22 June at Milan Fashion Week were found to be similar to Kolhapuri chappal, after which there were allegations of cultural theft and intellectual property violations in India. Prada admitted in an official statement, “We believe that the sandals displayed in the recent men’s 2026 fashion shows are inspired by traditional Indian handicraft shoes, which have hundreds of years old heritage.” The brand stated that the design was designed to honor Indian workmanship, but regretted the introduction of it without proper consent.
Kolhapuri Chappal, which is built in Kolhapur and parts of Karnataka in Maharashtra, has received a geographical signal (GI) tag in 2019, which protects its unique identity and traditional workmanship. Local artisans and organizations accused Prada that he misused his intellectual property and copied without permission. The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to Prada demanding apology and cooperation with the artisans. Prada said in response that they are ready to communicate with Indian artisans and will include local communities in such projects in future.
However, many artisans have considered it inadequate and threatened legal action. Ramesh Patil, a senior artisan from Kolhapur, said, “Foreign brands are using our generations without chering. If Prada does not apologize, we will go to court.” On social media, have washtags like #Savekolhapurichappal and #CultURATUREFT are trending, and Indian users have spoken of boycott against Prada.
Amidst controversy, fashion experts say international brands should respect local culture and promote design through cooperation. This is not the first such incident of Prada; In the past, he has faced criticism about traditional designs. The Ministry of Commerce, Government of India has also started investigating the case and the possibility of violation of GI tag rules is being searched. Prada has not yet clarified whether it would remove the Kolhapuri effect from the design or give royalty to the artisans. This case has become a question of balance between Indian handicrafts and global fashion industry.
