Prada Admits Kolhapuri Chappal Influence After Cultural Appropriation Accusations

Prada has finally acknowledged that its "new" sandals bear a striking resemblance to Kolhapuri chappals, a traditional Indian footwear, after facing criticism. The fashion house's Spring-Summer 2026 collection featured sandals that closely mirrored the iconic handmade leather footwear from Maharashtra, India.

Initially, Prada referred to the sandals simply as "leather sandals" in their show notes, failing to credit the original source of inspiration. This sparked outrage among Indian fashion observers, who felt that the label was appropriating a cultural icon without proper acknowledgment.

Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, was among the first to publicly criticize Prada. He emphasized that Kolhapuri chappals are not just ordinary sandals, but carry significant cultural and artisanal value. He also pointed out that they have a Geographical Indication (GI) tag since 2019, further protecting their authenticity and origin.

Following the backlash, Lorenzo Bertelli, head of CSR at the Prada Group, sent a letter to Gandhi acknowledging the "inspiration" behind the design. Bertelli admitted that the sandals were indeed influenced by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear with a "centuries-old heritage." He also clarified that the collection was still in its early design phase and not yet in production or available for sale.

Bertelli added that Prada respects Indian craftsmanship and is interested in exploring opportunities to collaborate with local artisans in the future.

While Prada's acknowledgment is a positive step, Gandhi maintains that cultural exchange in fashion must involve proper credit and collaboration. It is crucial to recognize the origins of designs and support the communities that have preserved these traditions.

This incident serves as a reminder to the fashion industry about the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need to give credit where it is due. Hopefully, this situation will encourage major brands to actively support traditional crafts instead of merely repackaging them for profit.