Following the row, Prada had acknowledged that the sandals showcased in their men's 2026 fashion show were 'inspired' by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear
The visit of experts from Prada comes days after the Italian luxury fashion brand was accused of appropriating the region's famous flat sandals. Pic/PTI
A team of experts from Prada visited Kolhapur district in Maharashtra to interact with artisans and assess the local footwear manufacturing process amid the Kolhapuri chappal row, reported the PTI.
The visit of experts from Prada comes days after the Italian luxury fashion brand was accused of appropriating the region's famous flat sandals.
Following the row, Prada had acknowledged that the sandals showcased in their men's 2026 fashion show were 'inspired' by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear. The brand, however, clarified in a reply to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce that the showcased sandals are still at the design stage and not yet confirmed for commercial production.
"Four members of their technical team, including the heads of footwear design of Prada and two external consultants, visited Kolhapur on Tuesday. They toured the Kolhapuri chappal manufacturing cluster, observed the production process, and held discussions with local artisans," said Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, according to the PTI.
Highlighting the craftsmanship involved, Gandhi said, "Our chappals are handmade and rooted in tradition. The team will now submit a report to its corporate office, and based on that, senior officials from Prada may visit Kolhapur in the next phase."
When asked about the possibility of collaboration, Gandhi said the visit itself was a positive sign. "The fact that Prada sent a technical team all the way to Kolhapur indicates serious interest. This is perhaps the first time a Prada delegation has come to Maharashtra," he said, as per the PTI.
He further said that Prada had created a product inspired by the Kolhapuri chappals.
"Once we noticed the design on the runway, we raised an objection and asked them to acknowledge its origins. They responded to us via email, accepting that the theme was inspired by Kolhapuri chappals," said Gandhi, the news agency reported on Wednesday.
Later on Tuesday, the visiting team also toured the retail market area in Kolhapur and interacted with shopkeepers.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday questioned the statutory right of six advocates to sue Italian fashion house Prada for its alleged unauthorised use of the famous Kolhapuri chappals, and dismissed their public interest litigation (PIL), reported news agency PTI.
A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne raised questions on the locus of the petitioning advocates, saying they were not the aggrieved persons or the registered proprietor or owner of the footwear.
"What is your (petitioners') statutory right?" HC asked, reported PTI.
"You are not the owner of this Kolhapuri chappal. What is your locus and what is the public interest? Any person aggrieved can file a suit. What is the public interest in this," the court asked, reported PTI.
The plea had said the Kolhapuri chappal (sandals) is protected as a Geographical Indication (GI) under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act.
The bench then said that the registered proprietor of the GI tag can come to court and espouse their own action.
The court dismissed the plea and said it would pass a detailed order later.
(with PTI inputs)
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