Italian luxurious style label Prada has mentioned it recognizes the Indian roots of its new sneakers line, days after the design sparked an issue in India.
The sandals, showcased on the Milan Type Week closing week, had an open-toe braided trend that carefully resembled the standard Kolhapuri sandals made in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Prada described the sandals as “leather-based sneakers” however didn’t point out its Indian origins, prompting backlash and allegations of cultural appropriation in India.
Responding to the talk, Prada advised the BBC in a commentary that it recognises that the sandals are impressed via conventional Indian sneakers.
A Prada spokesperson mentioned that the corporate has “all the time celebrated craftsmanship, heritage and design traditions”, including that it used to be “involved with the Maharashtra Chamber of Trade, Trade & Agriculture in this matter”.
Closing week, a distinguished business organisation had written to the logo, announcing the design used to be commercialised with out crediting the artisans who’ve preserved its heritage for generations.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada’s head of Company Social Accountability, replied to his letter announcing that the sandals have been “at an early degree of design”, consistent with Reuters.
He additionally mentioned that Prada used to be open to a “discussion for significant change with native Indian artisans” and the corporate would organise follow-up conferences to speak about this additional.
Named after a town in Maharashtra the place it’s made, Kolhapuri sandals hint their roots again to the twelfth Century.
Produced from leather-based and occasionally dyed in herbal colors, the standard hand made sandals are robust and well-suited to India’s scorching local weather.
They have been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) standing via the Indian executive in 2019.
Consistent with the International Industry Organisation, a geographical indication tag credit a just right or product as having originated from a definite area or position, and is thought of as a mark of authenticity.
Following the talk, many artisans in Kolhapur mentioned they have been saddened via Prada’s use of the design with out giving due credit score.
“Those sandals are made with the laborious paintings of leather-based employees in Kolhapur. They must be named after Kolhapur. Do not profit from others’ labour,” Prabha Satpute, a Kolhapuri artisan, advised BBC Marathi.
The sandals value a couple of loads rupees in India however Prada’s top class pricing angered some.
Industrialist Harsh Goenka highlighted this, announcing the native artisans slightly make any cash for a similar hand-made merchandise. “They lose, whilst international manufacturers money in on our tradition,” he mentioned.
This isn’t the primary time that international manufacturers had been accused to appropriating Indian conventional merchandise with out crediting their roots.
On the 2025 Cannes Movie Pageant, Gucci described a sari worn via Bollywood celebrity Alia Bhatt as a robe, sparking backlash.
Previous in Would possibly, a well-liked TikTok pattern used to be criticised for calling dupatta, a standard South Asian shawl, a Scandinavian shawl.
In Kolhapur, on the other hand, some mentioned the transfer had instilled a way of delight in them.
“Artisans are glad that any individual is recognising their paintings,” Kolhapur-based businessman Dileep Extra advised Reuters.
