Prada Seeks to Reconcile with Indian-made Sandals

Prada Launches Limited-Edition Indian-Made Sandals After Backlash

Prada, the Italian luxury group, is launching a limited-edition range of Indian-made sandals inspired by traditional Kolhapuri footwear. This move comes less than a year after the company faced a backlash for showcasing similar designs without crediting their origins.

The controversy began in June 2025, when Prada showed sandals resembling centuries-old Indian Kolhapuri chappals at a Milan fashion show. This sparked outrage among Indian artisans and politicians, who accused the brand of cultural appropriation. Prada later acknowledged the influence of ancient Indian styles and said it had begun talks with artisan groups about a collaboration.

As a result of these talks, Prada announced plans to produce 2,000 pairs of the sandals in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka under agreements with two state-backed bodies. These agreements combine local craftsmanship with Italian technology. The limited-edition sandals will be priced at about 750 euros ($881), according to Prada's website. They will be sold through 40 selected Prada stores worldwide and online, the company said in a statement on Monday.

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In addition to the production of the sandals, Prada has also announced a three-year training programme for artisans from the eight districts in India traditionally associated with Kolhapuri sandal-making. The programme, which will be delivered by two leading Indian design institutes, is expected to reach 180 artisans, starting next month. The training will be provided in structured six-month modules.

Artisans participating in the programme will also be given the opportunity to visit the Prada Group Academy in Italy to gain additional technical expertise. This move is seen as a positive step towards giving Indian traditional crafts the recognition they deserve on the world stage.