5 days ago
Prada turns devil again? Now, it's juttis after Kolhapuris
Italian fashion house Prada has found itself at the centre of controversy in India once time, it's not about Kolhapuris, the traditional GI-tagged footwear that the brand had blatantly referenced in an earlier Milan showcase, sparking a social media uproar. Prada eventually acknowledged the origins, even meeting artisans in Kolhapur to address the backlash. However, the internet is abuzz with photos of Prada's 'Antiqued Leather Pumps', drawing strong comparisons to Indian these pumps are available in several colours and designs on Prada's website, one particular pair bears an uncanny resemblance to traditional Indian juttis.
'Antiqued leather pumps' in cognac colour by Prada.
Prada describes this pair made with calfskin as 'an original and unconventional design'.'The pointy-toe silhouette in antiqued leather has visible stitching and raw-cut edges intentionally left unfinished,' the description further reads. Though juttis are traditionally flat footwear, Prada's version comes with in Amritsar, who are involved in the Punjabi jutti trade, have expressed outrage over the matter.A local shopkeeper, Akash, said that they work tirelessly to sell Punjabi juttis and Kolhapuri chappals priced between Rs 400 and Rs 2,000.'Many artisans and shopkeepers rely on this work to support their families. But now, Prada is copying the Punjabi jutti and plans to sell it for lakhs of rupees, which is a severe blow to their cultural heritage. He added that the Indian government should take strict action on this issue,' he told India experts weigh inFootwear experts, meanwhile, say that while most of Prada's other antiqued leather pumps from this collection don't particularly evoke a jutti vibe, unlike the brand's earlier blatant rip-off of Kolhapuris, the aforementioned pair does appear inspired by Indian juttis, specifically resembling Rajasthani mojaris.'These women pumps are not exactly a copy, but they look definitely inspired by Indian juttis, such as the mojari from Rajasthan or the juttis from Punjab, in their toe shape and upper silhouette,' Rashmi Tomar, a footwear designer, tells India Today explains that while pointy-toe is a common design used in footwear, it is the upper silhouette that makes it appear like a jutti.'The upper pattern and silhouette that you see in this Prada pair features a turned and close-stitched seam, a significant element in mojaris,' Tomar, who did a project on mojaris in 2006, adds that previously men's juttis featured the turned pattern and Khanna, founder of footwear brand Artimen, meanwhile, says he liked the Prada pumps but didn't immediately see them as 'Indianised' and would associate them with Rajasthani juttis only to some is embroiled in the 'copycat' row mere weeks after it showcased Kolhapuris on an international ramp without acknowledging the iconic footwear's Indian roots. The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA) lodged a formal complaint, prompting the brand to give Kolhapuris their due credit, visit the city and also collaborate with Indian for the juttis row, the brand is yet to comment. But what's your take?- EndsMust Watch
