Courtesy: Sakshi Shah
In a move that’s ignited debate across fashion and cultural circles, luxury fashion house Prada showcased what appeared to be Kolhapuri chappals on their Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 runway — without a single nod to their Indian origin or the artisans behind the iconic design.
Kolhapuris are more than just footwear. Handcrafted in Maharashtra using centuries-old techniques, each pair carries the legacy of skilled Indian artisans who have kept this craft alive with painstaking detail, heritage pride, and cultural authenticity. From the specific tanning of leather to the intricate stitching, Kolhapuris are symbolic of indigenous design and sustainable craftsmanship.
So when a powerhouse like Prada sends Kolhapuri-inspired footwear down one of the most prestigious fashion runways in the world — and fails to credit the community that birthed it — it becomes more than a fashion faux pas. It becomes a question of cultural appropriation versus appreciation.
Critics and cultural commentators are calling out the silence, asking why global fashion continues to borrow freely from traditional crafts without offering visibility, respect, or collaboration in return. In an era where inclusivity and conscious fashion are becoming industry mantras, erasing the origin of an artisanal product raises deeper questions about accountability in design.
As social media fills with opinions, one thing is clear: the world is watching. And it’s high time global brands not only draw inspiration from Indian heritage but also give credit where it’s long overdue — to the hands that create, not just the runway that displays.