Mumbai: From ‘Chappal Chor’ to Brand Ambassador, Italian Luxury Fashion House Prada has performed a rapid performance about the Italian luxury fashion house Praada, expressing a desire to discuss a revenue-sharing model for Kolhapuri Chapel and a symbol of Marathi pride for Kolhapuri Chapel made by traditional Indian artisans. Local artisans are also demanding that the Prada use ‘Kolhapuri’ label while selling these slippers in the international market.
The axis of Prada comes after displaying the classic T-strap, flat and complex-braided chapel in the Spring Summer 2026 Mainswear Collection at Milan Fashion Week recently by International Fashion Brand. It staged a loud protest with local Kolhapuri artisans, who accused Prada of “cultural appropriation”, which represents the 800 -year tradition that was born in Kolhapur in Maharashtra to give proper recognition to slippers.
Lalit Gandhi, president of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (McCiya), wrote to Prada on 25 June, urging acknowledgment and cooperation about traditional Kolhapuri footwear designs.
Gandhi told HT that Lorenzo Burteli, a corporate social responsibility in Prada, responded to him on 27 June. Gandhi said, “We welcome the response to Prada, which was accepted that the design shown was inspired by the traditional Indian handcraft footwear.” Fashion House, Burteli, added to his letter, “was ready to identify the value of special craftsmen by local artists and McCiya with meaningful exchange”.
Gandhi said that he has explained that Prada was open to work as a revenue-sharing formula with local Kolhapuri artisans for the sale of traditional chapels in the global market. He said that a team of Prada would soon reach India for discussion.
“Kolhapuri is amidst the price of slippers 400 more 4,000, while selling similar shoes for more than Prada 1 lakh. So there is a big scope. This line has opened the doors of the global market for Kolhapuri Chappell and local craftsmen will benefit greatly. ,
A statement issued by McCiya said, “The head of corporate social responsibility in the Prada Group, Lorenzo Burteli … accepted the global recognition of Kolhapuri Chappal, which is symbolic of the identity of Kolhapur and the cultural pride of Maharashtra.”
After the dispute broke last week, Kolhapuri artisans led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dhananjay Mahadik met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday and urged him to advocate him with the central government, which could then pursue his case with a luxury fashion brand.
Accepting the signature Kolhapuri Chappal with Prada now, Mahadik said, “I welcome the letter by Prada. But along with Revenue-sharing, we are also demanding that the fashion house use a label, when it uses a label to recognize footwear as a ‘Kolhapuri footwear’ to sell slippers in the global market.
