Prada’s $1500 ‘Kolhapuri chappals’ stir controversy, now luxury giant admits it was inspired by India

Dubai: Prada just got a fashionable slap on the wrist. The Italian luxury giant strutted out a new pair of leather sandals at Milan Fashion Week—price tag: a casual Rs1.2 lakh—but forgot one tiny detail: crediting India.

The sandals, with their open-toe, braided design, looked eerily similar to Kolhapuri chappals—traditional, handmade footwear from Maharashtra and Karnataka that’s been around since the 12th century. Locals usually snag a pair for a few hundred rupees. Prada, meanwhile, tried to sell the look without so much as a “Namaste.”

The backlash was swift and spicy. Accusations of cultural appropriation flooded in, with many pointing out the stark irony—artisans in Kolhapur barely break even, while a luxury house rakes in lakhs for the same design.

Under pressure, Prada finally admitted to the BBC that the sandals were indeed “inspired by traditional Indian footwear.” A spokesperson claimed the brand “has always celebrated craftsmanship and heritage”—just not enough to say the word Kolhapur the first time around.

To its credit, the brand is now in talks with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and says it’s open to collaborating with local artisans.

Lorenzo Bertelli, who heads Prada’s Corporate Social Responsibility (how fitting), responded to a formal complaint saying the design is still “in early stages” and promised “a meaningful dialogue” with Indian craftsmen.

On social media, industrialist Harsh Goenka didn’t mince words. “They lose, while global brands cash in on our culture,” he wrote.

Back in Kolhapur, reactions were mixed. “Don’t profit off others’ hard work without credit,” said artisan Prabha Satpute.

So, will this be a turning point or just another luxury label borrowing without credit? Either way, Kolhapuri chappals just got their global catwalk moment—and they didn’t even need a logo.