Prada faced a lot of heat for their Kolhapuri chappal-inspired footwear collection recently. Now, to understand the nuances that go into creating the iconic Kolhapuri sandal, the Italian luxury fashion brand sent a four-member team to Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on Tuesday.
Prada Team Visits Craftsmen In Kolhapur
According to Hindustan Times, the Prada team interacted with artisans who craft the famous Kolhapuri chappals. In addition to visiting factories in the industrial belt, they also met several craftsmen at their homes, where many operate their businesses.
Prada’s team visiting Kolhapur included Paolo Tiveron (director of men’s technical and production department, footwear division), Daniele Contu (pattern making manager from the footwear division), Andrea Pollastrelli (external consultant), and Roberto Pollastrelli (external consultant).
A few days back, officials from the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) also interacted with Prada representatives on a video call. Media reports suggest that during this call, the Indian officials suggested recognition of the Kolhapuri brand through a ‘Made in India’ collection. The luxury brand seems to be on board with the idea. It is to be noted that this isn’t the first time that Prada is partnering with local artisans. In the past, they have worked closely with artisans in Peru, Japan and Scotland.
Also Read: Prada Sells ‘Kolhapuri Sandals’ For Nearly ₹1 Lakh; Indians Call Out Culture Appropriation
Luxury Brand’s Kolhapuri Chappal-Inspired Footwear
Prada’s Spring/ Summer 2026 menswear collection in Milan garnered a lot of attention recently, and not for the right reasons! The luxury brand faced a lot of criticism for blatantly taking inspiration from GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappals and not giving the local artisans the due credit. Craftsmen, netizens, and fashion enthusiasts expressed outrage over the brand’s attempt at cultural appropriation.
In Kolhapur, the Prada team’s first stop was Subhash Nagar. This area is known for its cottage industry. They later visited factories in an industrial belt. They were shown a range of footwear and even shown how the famous footwear is made there.
Let us know your thoughts about this move by Prada in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/prada & Wikimedia Commons
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