Prada Kolhapuri Chappal Row: Kareena Kapoor Khan Calls Out Luxury Brand

Prada has been at the centre of controversy since its Spring-Summer '26 show in Milan. The couture house's menswear collection featured 'toe ring leather sandals', which had a strong resemblance to India's iconic Kolhapuri chappals. Social media was soon flooded with accusations of plagiarism and cultural appropriation. The footwear was reportedly being sold for an exorbitant ₹1 lakh, drawing further backlash.

Amid this row, Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan took a subtle dig at Prada, posting a photo of her local Kolhapuris on Instagram. "Sorry not Prada... but my OG Kolhapuri chappals," she wrote over the photo. 

Stealing an identity

Kolhapuri chappals are deeply personal to Indian heritage, with an artisanal legacy passed down through many eras. Originating from Maharashtra's Kolhapur, these hand-crafted leather sandals are traditionally made by craftsmen from the Charmakar (also known as Chamar) community, a scheduled caste. The footwear is an expression of generational skill, defiance, and resilience. The Kolhapuri chappals received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019.

However, Prada's interpretation, without context or due credit, is taking away from Kolhapuri's powerful symbolism. Artisans from Kolhapur and the surrounding districts had raised concerns over the lack of credit. The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) urged Prada to formally recognise the inspiration behind their design. According to reports, Prada representatives are going to meet MACCIA on July 11 to discuss an 'ethical collaboration'.

MACCIA President Lalit Gandhi wrote in a letter to Prada, "This initiative will not only set a global benchmark for ethical fashion but also demonstrate how heritage and innovation can harmoniously co-exist." He also suggested setting up a ‘Prada Artisan Excellence Lab’ in Kolhapur or Mumbai and advocated for a fair trade value chain to benefit local craftsmen. Gandhi stressed that these sandals represent centuries-old tradition and support thousands of livelihoods.

Amid the retaliation, Prada also acknowledged that the footwear featured on their Milan runway was inspired by India's Kolhapuri sandals. Lorenzo Bertelli, head of corporate social responsibility at Prada, said in a statement, "We acknowledge that the sandals featured in the recent Prada Men’s 2026 Fashion Show are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship."

More reactions to the row

Here are more responses to Prada's 'Kolhapuri' sandals.

PRADA is selling Kolhapuri chappals for ₹1.2 lakh — a design stolen from the Chamar community of India, who’ve handcrafted them for generations. No credit. No acknowledgment. Just pure cultural theft dressed in luxury branding. Shameful. #CulturalTheft #Kolhapuri pic.twitter.com/l3ITZlGSEG

— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) June 25, 2025

Prada is selling products looking like Kolhapuri chappals for over ₹1 lakh. Our artisans make the same by hand for ₹400. They lose, while global brands cash in on our culture. Sad! pic.twitter.com/Cct4vOimKs

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) June 26, 2025

New Age Colonialism Under the Garb of Fashion

The foreign fashion house @Prada has just launched a sandal under its own label that is virtually indistinguishable from our traditional Kolhapuri chappal—one of India’s most cherished heritage crafts. By making no mention of its… pic.twitter.com/v9crAnPb00

— Sambhaji Chhatrapati (@YuvrajSambhaji) June 27, 2025