The giant luxury Prada has recognized the Indian roots of its new model of sandals, after the onset of the open tip shoes sparked among the artisans and Indian politicians, thousands of kilometers away from the podiums in Italy, writes Reuters.
The images from the fashion presentation prey from Milan, last weekend, showed models wearing leather sandals with a design that resembles the Kolhapi slippers, models dating from the 12th century.
There followed a wave of criticisms in the media and by the legislators regarding the lack of public recognition of the Indian sandals by the Italian brand, which bears the name of a city in the state of Maharashtra, located in the west of the country.
Kolhapuri sandal producers vehemently protested against the Men's Spring/Summer Collection 2026 presented by the Italian brand Prada, claiming that the presented sandals resemble the traditional Kolhapuri sandals, a product to which the Indian government granted the status of geographical indication, according to The Hindu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giggc5nldke
Lorenzo Bertelli, the son of the owners of Prada, responded to the sandals scandal in a letter addressed on Friday to a commercial group, recognizing their Indian inheritance.
“We recognize that the sandals … are inspired by the traditional Indian footwear made manually, with a centuries history,” wrote Bertelli, director of the Prada Social Responsibility Department, in the letter to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, seen by Reuters.
Sandals are in an early design stage and is not sure they will be marketed, but prey is open to a “dialogue for a significant exchange with local Indian crafts” and will organize tracking meetings, he wrote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyxzrpce
A Prada spokesman issued a statement that recognizes that the inspiration for sandals has come from India, adding that the company “has always celebrated the skill, inheritance and design traditions.”
Prada luxury products, inanaceable to ordinary Indians
Prada products are inaccessible to most Indians. Men's leather sandals are sold for $ 844 and more, while Kolhapuri slippers, sold in Indian stores and street markets, start at about $ 12.
The luxury products market in India is small, but rapidly growing, with an increasing number of rich people who buy Louis Vuitton bags, Lamborghini cars, luxury houses and watches.
Instead, Indian culture and crafts are increasingly finding their place in the design of global brands. The Bulgarian luxury jeweler offers a $ 16,000 Mangalsutra necklace, inspired by a chain traditionally worn by married women.
Bertelli's tribute to the Indian design was sent in response to a complaint from the chief of the commercial group representing 3,000 kolhapi sandals, as the online revolt caught up.
“From the dusty streets of Kolhapur to the bright podiums in Milan … Will the world finally recognize the proper merits?”, Post India's Mrs. News on X.
Sambhaji Chhatrapati, a member of the royal family in Kolhapur, told Reuters, on the phone, that he was upset that the craftsmen were not recognized for “the history and inheritance of 150 years.”
However, the businessman Dileep More, in Kolhapur said that the images of Prada sandals have enjoyed some crafts, because they show that their traditional product is expanding worldwide.
“They are happy that someone recognizes their work,” he said.
