Kolhapuri-Inspired Sandals At Prada’s Milan Show Spark Debate, Here’s What The Internet Says

Following the release of a line of sandals at its Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show in Milan that remarkably resemble India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals, luxury fashion brand Prada has come under fire.

The Italian fashion brand included these leather-strapped, open-toe sandals in their latest collection, but they made no mention of their cultural significance or place of origin.

Indian audiences quickly recognized the hand-finished leather and toe-loop as a virtual replica of the Kolhapuri chappal, a footwear design that dates back a century and is indigenous to Maharashtra.

On the catwalk, the resemblance continued. Even the show invitations featured leather ring-shaped inserts that resembled Kolhapuri designs’ toe rings almost exactly.

Outrage Over Omission

Indian social media quickly condemned Prada for not giving credit where credit was due. Most accused the brand of cultural appropriation and taking indigenous work and selling it as high-end fashion without adequate recognition and compensation.

“Prada appropriating Kolhapuri chappals as high-end fashion and ignoring the generations-long artisans who have kept this tradition going,” one user posted.

Many also compared it to previous occasions when Western companies had taken traditional Indian wear such as dupattas or sarees and repackaged them as scarves or gowns without any reference to their Indian origins. 

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