Global fashion giant Prada acknowledges Kolhapuri inspiration

Italian luxurious trend model Prada has acknowledged being inspired by ‘traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage’ for its sandals featured within the current Males’s Spring/Summer time 2026 assortment, after being slammed for failing to acknowledge the resemblance to India’s GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappals.

Representatives of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Business and Agriculture, which communicated with Prada, mentioned that Prada was more likely to ship its crew to discover any chance of collaboration on the product within the close to future. In the meantime, the enterprise physique has determined to patent the Kolhapuri chappals to keep away from any infringement of rights sooner or later.

The Kolhapuri Chappal makers have additionally welcomed Prada’s acknowledgement, however have expressed an expectation that the model ought to do extra to assist their commerce.

Additionally Learn | Meet the real artisans behind India’s iconic Kolhapuri chappals — now in the global spotlight

Two days after the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Business and Agriculture (MACCIA) wrote to Patrizio Bertelli, chairperson of Prada’s Board of Administrators, the corporate responded, “We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship. Please observe that, for now, your entire assortment is at the moment at an early stage of design growth, and not one of the items are confirmed to be produced or commercialised. We’re dedicated to accountable design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for a significant alternate with native Indian artisan communities, as we have now completed previously in different collections to make sure the rightful recognition of their craft. Prada strives to pay homage and recognise the worth of such specialised craftspeople that symbolize an unrivalled commonplace of excellence and heritage.”

The letter was written to MACCIA’s president Lalit Gandhi, by Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group head of company social accountability, on Friday (June 27, 2025). “Prada has proven good ethics now. This has led to the acknowledgement of our conventional craft on a worldwide platform. We had made three calls for to them within the communication we had despatched to them on June 25. They have been that Prada ought to acknowledge the inspiration behind the design publicly; they need to discover the chances for collaboration or truthful compensation that would profit the artisan communities concerned; and that they need to think about supporting moral trend practices that respect conventional information and cultural rights,” Lalit Gandhi, president of MACCIA, instructed The Hindu from Kolhapur. He mentioned that the chamber is a 100-year-old physique, and its goodwill in Europe and the U.S. helped it to obtain an instantaneous acknowledgement from the worldwide large.

The letter written by MACCIA to Prada said, “Such a gesture wouldn’t solely uphold moral requirements in international trend, but in addition foster a significant alternate between heritage craftsmanship and modern design. We belief {that a} model of Prada’s stature and affect will take this concern in the best spirit and provoke a considerate response.”

Patent plan

Collaborating with the artisans and companies, MACCIA has now determined to patent the Kolhapuri chappals to keep away from any international infringement sooner or later.

“The GI tag is given by the Indian authorities. It’s not adequate within the worldwide market. We have to patent our merchandise. This incident has opened our eyes. Now we have now shaped a separate wing. We’ll patent not simply the Kolhapuri chappals, but in addition Kolhapur’s jaggery,” Mr. Gandhi mentioned.

“Everyone seems to be blaming Prada for basing its designs on the Kolhapuri chappals. However I feel they’ve completed us a favour by taking our model and making it international,” mentioned Shivaraj Soudagar, who runs the Athani Kolhapuri chappal cluster, a micro trade that produces the footwear in Belagavi.

“Leaders and authorities officers are speaking about taking Prada to court docket. However we want them to assist us enhance our designs and promote them. I would like Prada to understand that a mean chappal maker in Athani, Nippani or surrounding villages like Madabhavi earns between ₹250 – ₹400 per pair. The middlemen who transport these items promote them for ₹1,500 – ₹2,000 in Pune and Mumbai. The retailer sells them for as much as ₹4,000 per pair. We want a system the place our items are exported and the earnings are shared with us. If the Italian firm is promoting them for over one lakh rupees, we’d be pleased even when we get 10% of that quantity,” he mentioned.