Prada, an Italian luxury fashion house, has announced its partnership with Indian artisanal footwear makers. This move comes after backlash over sandals resembling traditional Kolhapuri designs showcased at Milan Men’s Fashion Week.
The controversy erupted when Prada presented open-toe leather sandals that critics said closely mirrored Kolhapuri chappals, handcrafted leather footwear named after Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and cherished as part of India’s cultural heritage.
Due to the Indian origin of the Kolhapuri sandal design, it was criticized by various fashion experts, artisans, politicians, and the general public. The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, which represents around 3,000 Kolhapuri sandal makers, called for the acknowledgment and protection of the traditional craft.
Prada then held a virtual meeting with the Chamber of Commerce on Friday to explore collaboration opportunities. The company stated that Prada’s supply chain team will soon engage directly with artisanal footwear manufacturers to collaborate on a partnership.
To protect the Kolhapuri artisans’ community, the Chamber also announced plans to obtain a design patent to prevent future copyright infringements globally.
The move by Prada marks a substantial step toward bridging global luxury fashion with indigenous craftsmanship. It follows a broader call for recognition of cultural heritage in the fashion industry.
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Ankur Mishra is a journalist who covers an extensive range of news, from business, stock markets, IPOs to geopolitics, world affairs, international crises, and general news. With over a decade of experience in the business domain, Ankur has been associated with some of the reputed media brands. Through a sharp eye on global marketplaces along with deep insights and analysis of business strategies, Ankur brings simplicity to the complex economic matrix to decode market trends and empower people.
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