Kolhapuris Walked The Prada Runway, But Got Zero Credit. Let's Talk Cultural Appropriation
Flat leather sandals. T-strap. Minimal. Wait a minute. Are those… Kolhapuris?
Prada's menswear collection, shown at the sunlit Fondazione Prada in Milan, had all the usual high-fashion suspects: floaty tunics, flowerpot hats, lots of 'soft structure.' But what really stole the show (and the internet)? A pair of sandals that looked exactly like the ones sold on street corners across India—the iconic Kolhapuri chappal.
Except now they're being referred to as 'toe ring sandals.' And they reportedly cost over $1000. *Insert collective desi gasp*
Instagram wasted zero time. Comments started pouring in under Prada's video:
'Why they wearing Indian flats???'
'Kolhapur—a royal city from Maharashtra, INDIA 🇮🇳. Atleast be considerate enough to give credit to right people and right source...'
'At this price you can take a trip to Maharashtra and buy many original Kolhapuris for ₹250-₹3000.'
I mean, they're not wrong.
Kolhapuris have been handmade by artisans across Maharashtra and Karnataka for generations. Real ones are made using sun-dried buffalo hide, stitched completely by hand, and don't use any glue or synthetic material. It can take up to two weeks to make a single pair. So yeah, there's craftsmanship, but it's been happening long before the runway decided to catch up.
The chappals even got a GI (Geographical Indication) tag in 2019. That's like the government officially going: 'Yep, these are ours. Back off.'
To be clear, Prada didn't say these are Kolhapuris. But fashion stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania posted side-by-sides on her story, with the caption, "called it! Prada kohlaprui chapals" and honestly? It's giving Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Luxury.
Look, I'm all for Indian design getting global love. It is cool seeing something from home take a stroll down a Milan runway. But when there's no shoutout to where it came from or who makes it—just a vague "genuine, nice" vibe—it feels kinda… off.
Hello @Prada Team
Here are my bespoke #KolhapuriChappal; proudly hand made by expert craftsman in #Kolhapur #Maharashtra #India.
Beautiful, ain't they?
Request you to do the right thing and give the credit where it is due. #KolhapuriChappals #IndianCraftsmanship … pic.twitter.com/xaP602RzY3
— Manoj Shendye (@shendye) June 24, 2025
Twitter: @shendye
Because when your nani's chappals end up on a luxury catwalk with zero context and a five-figure price tag in rupees, it's no longer just a fashion story. It's a visibility story. An authenticity story. A who's getting credit and who's getting erased story.
@Prada You should credit the artisans of india who has been doing this design and craftsmanship for 100's of years. Prada why Plagiarise? We ain't asking for royalty.
Dear world this is call Kohlapuri sandals/slippers. Prada
— Swathi Kr Iyengar (@swathikr) June 25, 2025
Twitter: @swathikr
And yeah, this isn't Prada's problem alone.
We've also seen Indian dupattas suddenly pop up on Pinterest as 'Scandinavian scarves.' And some fashion brands are debuting a crop top, a flared skirt, sometimes with a matching scarf. Sounds familiar? Of course it does. That's literally just a lehenga.
None of this is new to us. What's new is the way it's being renamed, resold, and rebranded, while the actual communities and artisans behind it are left out of the picture entirely.
No one's saying inspiration is a crime. But if fashion wants to borrow, it also needs to acknowledge. Because when the world starts calling Kolhapuris 'toe ring sandals,' lehengas 'bridal skirts,' and dupattas 'Nordic accessories,' we lose more than credit, we lose cultural clarity.
fuck your 'scandinavian scarf' it's a chunni or a dupatta. that's it. pic.twitter.com/UYtjrc18h3
— Simran (@_simran_gill_) April 15, 2025
Twitter: @_simran_gill_
Let's be real, it totally got copied. Prada may not have said the word Kolhapuri, but anyone who grew up around desi chappals clocked it in two seconds. This isn't just 'inspiration,' it's the fashion world doing what it always does: taking something from a culture, rebranding it, and slapping a luxury price tag on it. And sure, it's cool to see Indian design on a global stage. But if you're gonna take from it, at least say its name. If Kolhapuris are good enough for Milan, they're good enough to be named.
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