Prada Turns Page on Kolhapuri Row, Announces ‘Made in India’ Collaboration

After facing widespread criticism for not crediting the Indian origins of its Kolhapuri-style sandals, Italian fashion giant Prada is now taking some corrective steps by partnering with Maharashtra’s traditional artisans for a new collection inspired by the iconic Kolhapuri chappals. This move is followed by days of heated debate on the Prada’s Spring-Summer 2026 Men’s Collection, which featured leather sandals quite like the Indian Kolhapuri footwear. Though, there wasn’t any mention in the show’s notes of sandal’s Indian origins.

The controversy began when artisans, designers and cultural watchdogs noticed that Prada’s runway sandals resembled the Kolhapuri chappal. This chappal is a handmade leather slipper native to western Maharashtra and protected under India’s Geographical Indication (GI) registry. Prada had referred to the sandals merely as “leather footwear” in their show notes, which triggered a backlash because they didn’t credit the traditional craft.

In a statement released soon after the backlash, Prada acknowledged the oversight. They shared with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), and confirmed that the footwear was “inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted sandals” and placed importance on the cultural significance of Kolhapuris. The brand also made clarifications that the showcased designs were still at the prototype stage and had not yet entered the commercial market.

But more importantly, Prada is now moving towards action.

MACCIA announced on July 11 that Prada will send a technical team to Maharashtra next week to begin working on a limited-edition capsule collection of ‘Made in India’ Kolhapuri sandals. This initiative will follow all GI-tag compliance, and along with that it will also feature a collaboration with local artisans.

“This is a landmark moment,” said MACCIA President Lalit Gandhi. “We’ve not only protected a cultural asset but also opened a door to take our art to a global audience and that too with rightful credit.”

Prada’s this move could represent a turning point in how luxury fashion interacts with native crafts. If talk about the brand, for them what started as a controversy could now evolve into a case study in responsible design. With their team heading to India this could be just the beginning of something where high fashion and heritage walk together.