The internet is abuzz with comments calling famous fashion label Prada a thief (chor). Why? India's popular Kolhapuri Chappal's is in the limelight, thanks to Italian luxury label.
If you're seeing the Kolhapuri Chappal controversy and social media users accusing Prada of cultural appropriation all over Instagram and X handles, you're not alone.
Let us rewind and understand the genesis and details of the Prada-Kolhapuri chappal controversy:
Kolhapuri Chappal Controversy: What Happened?
Prada showcased Kolhapuri chappals its Spring/Summer 2026 on the runway at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday. The flats were reportedly prices at over Rs 1.25 lakh.
Out of the 56 ensembles unveiled at the Milan fashion show, at least seven from Prada's Spring/Summer 2026 collection were styled with Kolhapuris.
View this post on InstagramBut, the biggest problem was that the Italian luxury brand did not give credits to the original Kolhapuri chappals without any mention of their Indian origins. That led to an outage on social media, where most people asked, "Where is the credit?"
The History And Reactions
The Kolhapuri chappals are not just a pair of sandals - it's a heritage craft that dates back to the 12th century, traditionally handmade by cobblers in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
"I don't understand what the outrage is about at all. We should be amused. If anything, we may be flattered," Shobha De told NDTV. "I don't think we should be getting up in arms about this. It's maybe some kind of an indirect tribute. Who knows it will lead to a revival," she further said.
In 2019, Kolhapuri chappals received a Geographical Indication tag from the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. This tag officially recognised the origin of these chappals across eight districts—Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, and Satara in Maharashtra, and Belgaum, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Bijapur in Karnataka.
De further highlighted that all things India and all things Indian seem to be coming back into vogue and good for us. "We should exploit the moment. We shouldn't be sitting there and crying about cultural appropriation. I'm sure we have done the same with some of their products in reverse. It's all fine. It's all fine in fashion, love and war as far as I can tell," she said.
While, Shobha De has given a thumbs up to Prada, social media users are not in a mood to give a clean chit to the Italian luxury label on their 'Chappal Chori.'
Mapping Netizen Reactions
PRADA is selling Kolhapuri chappals for ₹1.2 lakh — a design stolen from the Chamar community of India, who've handcrafted them for generations. No credit. No acknowledgment. Just pure cultural theft dressed in luxury branding. Shameful. #CulturalTheft #Kolhapuri pic.twitter.com/l3ITZlGSEG
June 25, 2025"Exact "replicas" of kola puri chapals," wrote one user on Prada's Instagram post.
"Chappal chor, get these in India for 1/100th price guys!," said another user.
"Give credit to the one who invented it!!!! 🇮🇳🇮🇳," commented another user.
The Kolhapuri controversy brings to light a deeper issue— the underrepresentation of India's artisanal legacy in global cultural narratives, even as it makes its way into influential global circles.
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