With Prada, LIDCOM Puts Kolhapuri inspired Indian Craft on Global Fashion Luxury Map

Global luxury house Prada on Monday launched its Limited Edition Collection of Sandals inspired by the Indian Kolhapuri Chappals across 40 select Prada stores worldwide and on its ecommerce platform as a part of itrsquos lsquoPRADA Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappalsrsquo project Manufactured in India by artisans from Maharashtra and Karnataka the heartland of traditional Kolhapuri handcraft the launch marks more than a commercial milestoneldquoIt is a moment of global recognition for a centuriesold Indian craft and for the institution that has worked for decades to protect promote and dignify itrdquo said Smt Prerna Deshbhratar IAS Managing Director of lsquoSant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporationrsquo better known as LIDCOM which was established on 1 May 1974 under the Social Justice Department of Maharashtra with mandate to protect the dignity and livelihood of Maharashtrarsquos leather artisan communitiesOne of LIDCOMrsquos best product the Kolhapuri chappal is a living tradition carried refined and passed down by generations of artisans Notably it has received GI tagging in 2009 a distinction that underscores the scale of LIDCOMrsquos achievementMaharashtrarsquos Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis described the launch as a moment of national pride ndash ldquoThis global launch Inspired by the Indian Kolhapuri Chappalsrdquois a proud moment for Maharashtra and for India Born in the hands of Maharashtrarsquos leather artisan community and protected by LIDCOM the Kolhapuri chappal is now a global luxury fashion product showcased in 40 Prada stores worldwide This is Maharashtra showing the world what lsquoMade in Indiarsquo truly meansrdquoThe collaboration extends well beyond the limitededition collection As part of the agreement Prada will fully fund a threeyear structured training programme at the National Institute of Fashion Technology NIFT and the Karnataka Institute of Leather and Fashion Technology KILT building the design and technical skills of artisans whose craft has already proven itself on the world stage The finestamong them will go further selected for advanced training at Pradas own Academy in ItalyAs rightly said by Shri Sanjay Shirsat Minister of Social Justice and Special Assistance Maharashtra ndash ldquoToday the hard work of our artisans and their traditional craft has received real respect Kolhapuri chappals are not just footwear they are the pride of our land Social justice means giving people strength to stand on their own and honouring their labourrdquo In his message to the artisans he added ldquoThis honour this pride comes from your hard work your sweat and your tradition We are truly happy that this craft has now reached the world stage The respect for our people has gone across the worldrdquoThose familiar with the collaboration say the credit for the partnership belongs firmly to LIDCOM the institutional backbone that identified the opportunity brokered the conversation and structured every clause to keep artisan welfare at its core ldquoThere was meticulous planning behind this collaboration Things were not easy given the involvement of a global brand like Prada international laws and the wider canvas of our global relations All of this had to be factored into the negotiations while always keeping in mind the rightful ownership of the intellectual property of generations of our artisansrdquo says Dr Harshadeep Kamble IAS Principal Secretary Ministry of Social Justice and Special AssistanceThe partnership between Prada and LIDCOM crystallised in the months following an online backlash over the Kolhapuriinspired leather sandals shown at Pradarsquos Spring 2026 menswear presentation The collection featured sandals bearing an unmistakable resemblance to the GItagged Kolhapuri chappal Prada issued a statement Then it did something more meaningful it sent a delegation to Kolhapur to LIDCOMs facility to the hands that had been making this craft long before any runway discovered itAfter several rounds of detailed discussions led by Smt Deshbhratar a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Prada and LIDCOM at the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai She subsequently travelled to Italy for further negotiations paving the way for the collaboration in its current form As sheputs it ldquoThis collaboration will enable the sustainable global positioning of our traditional craftsmanship fostering crosscultural design dialogue and longterm value for artisansrdquoThe operative phrase is longterm value for artisans a commitment LIDCOM received from Prada as a nonnegotiable condition of the partnershipFor Indiarsquos craft sector the LIDCOM model offers a powerful lesson protect the craft build institutional credibility negotiate from strength and keep artisan welfare nonnegotiable This is what makes the partnership meaningful

With Prada, LIDCOM Puts Kolhapuri inspired Indian Craft on Global Fashion Luxury Map

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With Prada, LIDCOM Puts Kolhapuri inspired Indian Craft on Global Fashion Luxury Map

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast