"Stole Our Culture": India Outraged Over New Prada Sandals

Prada Unveils New Sandals Resembling Indian Tradition
As Controversy Grows, Prada Admits: "Inspired by Indian Tradition"

Italian luxury brand Prada is facing controversy after unveiling a design similar to traditional Indian sandals. As criticism mounted that Prada was seeking commercial gain by appropriating Indian traditional culture without permission, the company acknowledged that the design was indeed inspired by Indian tradition.

Handmade transaction platform Etsy selling traditional Indian sandals Kolhapuri chappal. Etsy capture.

According to the BBC on the 29th (local time), Prada admitted that its recently unveiled shoe design was inspired by traditional Indian footwear, specifically the Kolhapuri chappal, following criticism that the design closely resembled these sandals.

The controversial sandals were revealed last week at Milan Fashion Week. Observers pointed out that the design, featuring a separated big toe and braided leather pattern, closely resembles the traditional Kolhapuri chappal produced in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Although Prada introduced the sandals as leather shoes, the company did not mention any reference to traditional Indian footwear, leading to criticism in India that the brand had appropriated traditional culture without acknowledgment.

In response, Prada stated in a statement sent to the BBC, "We acknowledge that these sandals were inspired by traditional Indian footwear." A Prada spokesperson added, "Prada has always respected craftsmanship, heritage, and design tradition," and noted that the company is in contact with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce regarding this matter.

Previously, the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce had sent a letter to Prada protesting that the company had commercialized a tradition preserved by artisans over generations without any acknowledgment of their contributions.

Regarding this, Prada's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Lorenzo Bertelli, told a media outlet, "These sandals are still in the early stages of design," and added, "We are open to meaningful dialogue with local Indian artisans and will hold further meetings in the future."

Kolhapuri sandals derive their name from the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, where they are produced, and are believed to have been made since around the 12th century. Made from leather, they are durable and well-suited to India's hot climate. In 2019, these sandals received Geographical Indication (GI) certification from the Indian government. GI is a system that officially recognizes that a particular product originates from a specific region.

As the controversy grew, artisans from the Kolhapur region expressed regret over Prada's unauthorized use of the traditional design. Kolhapuri artisan Prabha Satpute told BBC Marathi, "These sandals are the result of the hard work of Kolhapur's leather artisans," and added, "These sandals should bear the name of Kolhapur. Do not exploit the labor of others."

While Prada has not disclosed the price of these sandals, other sandals from the brand are priced between 600 and 1,000 pounds (approximately 1.11 million to 1.86 million won) in the UK. In India, Kolhapuri chappals can be purchased for several hundred rupees, or around 10,000 won. Indian entrepreneur Harsh Goenka pointed out, "Local artisans earn almost nothing, while global brands profit by exploiting our culture."