Prada to partner with Indian artisans after sandal backlash

The backlash over a sandal resembling the traditional Kolhapuri design saw calls for greater recognition of Indian craftsmanship.

Prada announced plans Friday to partner with Indian artisanal footwear makers, just two weeks after the luxury fashion house sparked controversy by showcasing sandals critics said closely resembled traditional Indian designs.

Prada held a meeting Friday with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, which represents 3,000 Kolhapuri sandal artisans, to discuss potential opportunities for future collaboration, the company said in a statement to Reuters.

"The next step will be for Prada's supply chain team to meet a range of artisanal footwear manufacturers," the company said.

The Chamber shared photos from the virtual meeting in a post on X and said, "This initiative could serve as a model for respectful collaboration between global fashion and traditional communities."

The Chamber also said that Lorenzo Bertelli, son of Prada's owners and head of its corporate social responsibility division, joined the talks.

How the Prada design ignited a cultural firestorm in India

The controversy began when Prada showcased open-toe footwear resembling India's traditional Kolhapuri sandals at Milan Men's Fashion Week, describing them simply as "leather sandals."

But Indian fashion critics, craftspeople, and politicians criticized the brand, noting the sandals closely resembled handcrafted leather shoes known as Kolhapuri chappals, worn by millions across India.

The sandals are named after Kolhapur, a town in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, where they are made, and are considered part of India's rich cultural heritage.

Following a social media outcry, the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce called on Prada to acknowledge the Indian roots of the design.

The Chamber has decided to have the Kolhapuri chappals patented to avoid any global copyright infringement in the future.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse