Prada Engages Indian Artisans Over Sandal Design

Italian luxury brand Prada has acknowledged that its new men's sandals shown at Milan Fashion Week were inspired by traditional Indian Kolhapuri chappals, following backlash for initially omitting credit. Kolhapuri sandals have held Geographical Indication (GI) status since 2019 and are made by thousands of artisans in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Indian officials and craftspeople criticized Prada for overlooking the design's cultural and economic significance. Prada's head of corporate social responsibility confirmed the collection is still in early design stages and expressed openness to collaboration and fair compensation for Indian artisans. The company is now in contact with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and has committed to responsible design and cultural engagement. The incident has amplified debates about global fashion’s responsibilities in honoring indigenous craftsmanship and intellectual property.