Italian luxury fashion house Prada has found itself at the center of controversy, not for its couture, but for a pair of sandals. The brand’s recent showcase featured leather slippers that bore a striking resemblance to traditional Indian Kolhapuri chappals. Social media users and fashion critics quickly called out Prada for cultural appropriation, highlighting the lack of acknowledgment or credit to the indigenous Indian design.
In response to the backlash, Prada issued a statement recognizing the significance of the footwear. “We deeply recognize the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, in a letter addressed to Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
The incident has reignited discussions around fashion ethics, with calls for global brands to be more respectful and transparent about cultural inspirations in their designs.
Prada responds
Bertelli’s letter was in response to the one by Gandhi after outrage over Prada’s footwear featured as part of its Spring-Summer 2026 collection this week.
In his defence, Bertelli clarified that the collection in question is still in the early stages of design and development, with no final decisions made regarding production or commercial release.
He emphasised Prada’s commitment to responsible design and meaningful cultural collaboration, stating that the brand aims to engage with local Indian artisan communities, much like it has done in previous collections, to ensure their craftsmanship is properly acknowledged.
Bertelli also expressed that Prada values the heritage and expertise of these artisans, viewing their work as an unparalleled standard of excellence. He added that the company is open to continued dialogue and would arrange a follow-up discussion with the appropriate teams at Prada.
Official statement from India
In his letter, Gandhi said, “It has come to public attention that the collection includes footwear designs that bear a close resemblance to Kolhapuri Chappals (Footwear) a traditional handcrafted leather sandal that has been awarded Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Government of India in 2019.”
Explaining the cultural significance of this symbol of Indian craftsmanship, Gandhi gave strong response. He said, “While we appreciate global fashion houses drawing inspiration from diverse cultures, we are concerned that this particular design appears to have been commercialized without due acknowledgment, credit, or collaboration…”
Urging an acknowledgement, Gandhi instructed Prada for “fair compensation that could benefit the artisan communities involved and consider supporting ethical fashion practices that respect traditional knowledge and cultural rights.”
Apart from formal communications, fashion influencers and artists with influential voices have called out Prada for the repetitive appropriation. However, this is not the first time a global luxury brand has made headlines at the behest of Indian culture. The need for an ethical global language resonated among all those who called out Prada.