Prada Kolhapuri sandals row: Brand team visits Kolhapur

A senior delegation from Italian luxury brand Prada has arrived in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, to assess the craftsmanship behind traditional Kolhapuri chappals. The visit follows global criticism of Prada's Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which showcased sandals inspired by the iconic Indian footwear—without initially crediting its cultural roots.

The team, part of Prada’s core technical division, is engaging directly with local artisans, cooperative leaders, and stakeholders to understand the time-honoured methods used in crafting Kolhapuris. They are expected to return the following morning after a full day of evaluation and cultural exchange.

Prada unveiled its Men's Spring/Summer 2026 line at Milan Fashion Week on June 22, where Kolhapuri-style sandals were featured in at least seven of the 56 looks. The luxury flats, priced at over AED 5,400 (approx. INR 1.25 lakh), quickly sparked online backlash for omitting reference to their Indian origins.

On June 28, Prada formally acknowledged that the collection was inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear. “We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,” wrote Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, in a letter addressed to Indian Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi.

With inputs from ANI