Prime Highlights:

• Prada has come to the defense of its new sandal design as inspired by India’s Kolhapuri chappals following global outrage.
• The company promised it would collaborate with Indian artisans and has yet to finalize the design for sale.

Key Facts:

• Prada’s men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection included sandals nearly identical to Kolhapuri chappals.
• The shoes were advertised during Milan Fashion Week and created controversy about not giving enough cultural credit.
• Following protests, Prada acknowledged the Indian origin of the design and expressed interest in collaborating with artisans.

Key Background

Kolhapuri chappals are traditional hand-made leather sandals from the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, India. They have over 800 years of history and are famous for their longevity, braided leather patterns, and piercing T-strap details. They are never constructed using nails and are from vegetable-tanned leather. They are a major contributor to Maharashtra’s artisan economy, sustaining thousands of families that rely on this work to survive.

Kolhapuri chappals received Geographical Indication (GI) protection in 2018, which safeguards the term “Kolhapuri” for commercial use under law. Such protection maintains regional culture by making it illegal to misuse the name, but no such protection is extended to imitations of the design that do not use the name directly.

During Milan Fashion Week in June of 2025, luxury fashion house Prada released a new line of leather sandals as a part of its men’s Spring/Summer 2026 offerings. The shoes immediately made headlines because they looked surprisingly similar to Kolhapuri chappals. Despite the lookalike appearance, Prada did not at first acknowledge the origin of the sandals as Indian, which led to stern social media and Indian politician and artisanal backlash. They accused the brand of cultural appropriation by highlighting the enormous mismatch between the high prices of over ₹1.2 lakh (around $844) and meager earnings of Indian craftsmen selling authentic chappals for one-tenth of that price.

As a reaction to the scandal, Prada’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility wrote an official letter embracing the ingenuity of the sandals. The letter explained that the designs were not yet commercially treated and assured interaction with Indian communities of artisans. While some Indian government officials and craftsmen felt appreciated, others continue to demand official collaboration, fair compensation, and more respect for native crafts.

The case reopened international discussion around intellectual property, ethical fashion, and high-end brands’ use of traditional designs. It emphasizes the necessity of strong international regulations to safeguard cultural heritage and severe consultation with local artisans while taking inspiration for creative ideas from traditional art forms.