Luxury fashion brand Prada has announced a line of limited-edited footwear inspired by India-made Kolhapuri sandals. The brand will make 2,000 pairs of sandals in India’s Maharashtra and Karnataka states under a deal with two state-backed entities, according to Reuters.
“We’ll mix the original manufacturer’s standard capabilities with our manufacturing techniques,” Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said.
The collection is set to go on sale in February 2026, online and in 40 Prada stores across the world. A pair of sandals will be priced $939. The agreement was signed on Thursday, during the Italy-India Business Forum 2025.
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Previously, Prada faced widespread criticism for showcasing sandals that closely resembled the traditional Kolhapuri sandals made in Maharashtra and Karnataka. While the sandals were labelled “leather footwear,” their origins were not mentioned, prompting accusations of cultural appropriation.
Several individuals had criticized Prada for the product. Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra chamber of commerce, said, “The collection includes footwear designs that bear a close resemblance to Kolhapuri sandals, a traditional handcrafted leather sandal that has been awarded ‘geographical indication’ status by the government of India in 2019.”
The geographical indication tag verifies that a product originates in a specific place. The sandals’ origins go back to the 12th century to the city of Kolhapur in western Maharashtra state.
“While Indian artisans and small-scale producers excel in craftsmanship, they rarely have access to capital or business acumen” to position their products globally as luxury goods, Dhanendra Kumar, an ex-World Bank executive director, said in India’s Economic Times. Meanwhile, actress Kareena Kapoor took a dig at the product via social media by posting a picture of her traditional Kolhapuri sandals on Instagram, with the caption “Sorry not Prada…(laughing and punching emoji) but my OG kolapuri (Heart emoji)️.”
Artisans from Kolhapur had also stated they were saddened by the use of their design without due credit.
On Friday, Maharashtra’s Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat told BBC Marathi that the new initiative will be called “Prada Made in India – Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals [sandals].”
“Keeping in mind Prada’s requirements and demand, some artisans will receive special training from Prada and LIDCOM [a state-backed entity supporting the leather industry in Maharashtra]. Additionally, around 200 Kolhapuri chappal artisans will be given three years of training in Italy,” he said.
Shirsat said the agreement had been signed for five years but expressed confidence that it would be extended further.