Culture Theft or High Fashion? Prada Slammed for Maharashtra’s Kolhapuri Lookalike Sandals
Culture Theft or High Fashion? Prada Slammed for Maharashtra’s Kolhapuri Lookalike Sandals
Luxury fashion house Prada is facing backlash for its Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection after unveiling a sandal design that closely resembles India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals—without naming or crediting the inspiration.
Presented at the Fondazione Prada in Milan, the collection showcased minimalist, leather sandals featuring a toe ring and flat base. To many Indians, the design bore a striking resemblance to Kolhapuri chappals, an iconic handmade footwear style from Maharashtra with centuries-old roots. However, Prada made no mention of the chappals in its show or materials, triggering accusations of cultural appropriation and erasure on social media.
The show, curated by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, featured high-concept designs and abstract show invites—including a small leather ring, which some interpreted as a subtle nod to the toe-ring design element. Still, critics argue that silent inspiration without attribution continues a problematic pattern within the global fashion industry.
“This is not about being inspired. It’s about who gets acknowledged when the inspiration is so obvious and rooted in non-Western culture,” noted a Mumbai-based fashion historian on X (formerly Twitter).
This is not the first time international fashion has faced criticism for lifting elements from Indian design traditions. In the past, labels have been called out for rebranding Indian dupattas as “Scandinavian scarves” and using South Asian embroidery motifs under labels like “Ibiza-core” without credit.
Kolhapuri chappals are more than just footwear—they are a symbol of cultural heritage and craftsmanship passed down through generations of Indian artisans. Critics argue that when global luxury brands reproduce such designs without context or acknowledgment, they risk misrepresenting or diminishing their cultural significance.
What many see as a sleek fashion statement on a Milan runway is, to others, a reminder of an ongoing struggle for cultural respect and recognition. The conversation now goes beyond sandals—it touches on deeper issues of who gets to profit from culture and who gets left out of the narrative.
As the online debate intensifies, one message stands out: Kolhapuri chappals might now walk international catwalks, but the credit for their legacy still hasn’t taken a step forward.
