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News18
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Prada Team Visits Kolhapur To Meet Local Artisans Amid Kolhapuri Sandal Row
Last Updated: They met with local artisans in Jawahar Nagar, a hub for Kolhapuri chappal-making, and interacted with craftsmen Italian fashion brand Prada, under fire for showcasing Kolhapuri-style slippers without acknowledging their Indian roots, sent a team to Kolhapur to learn more about the traditional craft on Wednesday. The visit comes days after Prada's Spring/Summer 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week, where models wore leather slippers, resembling Kolhapuri chappals. Priced at around Rs 1.2 lakh, the footwear sparked backlash in India as it wasn't credited or linked to its cultural origin. To address the concerns, six senior members of Prada's footwear division visited Kolhapur. The team included Paolo Tiveron, head of men's footwear production, Daniele Contu, a pattern-making manager, and others. They met with local artisans in Jawahar Nagar, a hub for Kolhapuri chappal-making, and interacted with craftsmen like Shubham Satpute, Balu Gawli, and Sunil Lokre. 'A team has come from Italy to check all the manufacturing units of Kohapuri chappals and to see the technical parts as Prada enters the retail market in Kolhapur, " said a vendor. In response, Prada said it was committed to responsible design and open to collaborating with Indian artisans. The company also expressed interest in a limited-edition 'Made in India" collection inspired by Kolhapuri designs, aiming for a more respectful and collaborative approach going forward. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 14:29 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Prada team visits Kolhapur, meet local artisans after Kolhapuri sandals row
Days after facing criticism for showcasing Kolhapuri-style leather slippers without proper credit, a team from Italian fashion house Prada arrived in Kolhapur on Tuesday to learn about the history and craftsmanship behind the iconic Kolhapuri Gandhi, Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture, told India Today TV, 'A few days ago, Prada held a fashion show in Milan, Italy, where Kolhapuri slippers were featured. However, Prada described them merely as leather garments, without acknowledging their origin.'advertisementFollowing the backlash, six senior representatives from Prada, including Paolo Tiveron, the director of the men's technical and production department (footwear division), Daniele Contu, pattern-making manager of the footwear division, Andrea Pollastrelli and Roberto Pollastrelli, visited Kolhapur to gain a better understanding of the traditional craft. 'They assured that such a mistake would not be repeated in the future. Furthermore, the Prada representatives promised to help give Kolhapuri slippers rightful recognition on a global scale,' Gandhi team visited the Jawahar Nagar area, known for producing traditional Kolhapuri footwear, and interacted with local artisans including Shubham Satpute, Balu Gawli, Arun Satpute, Sunil Lokre and Balasaheb the recent Milan Fashion Week, at least seven of Prada's Spring/Summer 2026 looks featured models wearing Kolhapuri-style slippers. These were priced at around Rs 1.2 lakh each but were not referred to by their original name or cultural roots, causing outrage in experts called the lack of credit a serious oversight. Kolhapuri chappals have held Geographical Indication (GI) status in India since 2019, recognising their unique heritage and regional also said, 'The state government is being urged to take steps to protect the reputation and popularity of Kolhapuri slippers.' Earlier, the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture had written to Prada, raising concerns about cultural appropriation and the lack of response, Prada said it would work towards 'responsible design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for a meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities.'Furthermore, earlier last week, Prada expressed interest in launching a limited-edition "Made in India" Kolhapuri-inspired collection in partnership with Indian artisans.- EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Prada team visits artisans to explore collaboration on Kolhapuri chappals
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolhapur: Unique handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals that whisper quiet elegance, epitomise sustainable artistry, all the while adapting beautifully to seasonal weather, captivated a team from luxury fashion brand Prada on Tuesday. A team of four technical experts from the Italy-based global fashion brand Prada was in Kolhapur on Tuesday to interact with artisans who produce the iconic Kolhapuri chappals and took finished footwear as well as various completed and unfinished parts with them. After exhibiting the footwear at its Milan show without naming the Kolhapuri chappal, Prada chose to engage with the artisans responsible for making the footwear. In a recent meeting with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), the fashion giant expressed a desire to collaborate with local artisans and supply chains and to conduct business in the future. Consequently, Prada sent a team led by Paolo Tiveron, the director of the men's technical and production department (footwear division). The team included Daniele Contu, pattern-making manager of the footwear division, and two external consultants, Andrea Pollastrelli and Roberto Pollastrelli. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo MACCIA president Lalit Gandhi assisted the team in visiting Subhash Nagar, the centre of Kolhapuri chappal manufacturing. Bhupal Shete, a manufacturer and seller of Kolhapuri chappals who is also the director of the Kolhapuri chappal cluster, was with the Prada team during the visit. "In the past, through govt intiatives, we have showcased the footwear in countries such as Egypt, Singapore and a few others. It helped the artisans and sellers as the demand grew. We fought to get a Geographical Indication tag for Kolhapuri chappals. We told the Prada team that these chappals can help feet remain healthy as these provide warmth when its cold, and stay cool during the summers. With the help of Prada, global markets will open up for Kolhapuri chappals and the art will be preserved." Shubham Satpute, a fourth-generation chappal maker, told TOI, "The team members asked us how the stripes are made, how the stitches are done, and how many chappals we can make every month. They gathered information on the chappal-making process. I told them about the uniqueness and the things which only artisans from Kolhapur can accomplish, such as design, hand stitches, leather braiding, and treatment of leather. We gave one antique pair of Kolhapuri chappals to the Prada team. They also took various samples of braids, finished, and other unfinished parts." TOI has written to Prada seeking details of the visit, and a reply is awaited. Gandhi said this is the first time representatives of the company, with a turnover of Rs 50,000 crore, had come to Subhash Nagar. "The Prada controversy has helped take Kolhapuri chappal to the global stage. Now, the next team of Prada, which is associated with the business aspect of the trade, will come to Kolhapur in the first week of Aug," Gandhi said. The Prada team stayed in Kolhapur and is likely to visit Chappal Line, the famous lane of Kolhapuri chappal shops near the Mahalaxmi temple on Wednesday morning before leaving for Milan, said Gandhi.
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Business Standard
20 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Prada team lands in Kolhapur to engage artisans after Milan sandal row
Following an online backlash over 'cultural appropriation' for featuring Kolhapuri sandals at its Milan show, a delegation of executives from Italian luxury label Prada on Tuesday reached Kolhapur, Maharashtra, to engage with local artisans, Mint reported. The visiting team includes Andrea Boscaro, director of collection development for Prada and Miu Miu footwear; Paolo Tiveron, head of the men's technical and production department; and Daniele Contu, pattern-making manager. All three are from Prada's footwear division. External consultants Andrea Pollastrelli and Roberto Pollastrelli are also part of the delegation, the company told Mint. According to Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), the team is visiting for two days. 'The technical team will evaluate the process of making Kolhapuri chappals, share their experience, and outline expectations as per Prada's requirements. They will also visit artisan clusters involved in traditional footwear making,' he said. The visit follows a virtual meeting held last week between MACCIA and Prada to discuss concerns raised over the collection shown in Milan. During the meeting, Prada expressed interest in launching a limited-edition, made-in-India Kolhapuri-inspired line in collaboration with local craftsmen, according to MACCIA. Kolhapuri chappal–Prada controversy The row began after Prada revealed leather sandals at Milan Fashion Week that closely resembled Kolhapuri chappals. Part of its Spring/Summer 2026 menswear line, the sandals were reportedly priced at around ₹1.2 lakh. The design drew criticism for ignoring the cultural and craft-based roots of the original footwear. Prada later said the style was 'inspired by Indian craftsmanship', but that statement came only after public criticism intensified. Kolhapuri chappals, known for their toe-strap design and handmade leatherwork, are a traditional form of footwear from Maharashtra and Karnataka. The chappals also carry a Geographical Indication (GI) tag under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Last week, intellectual property rights advocate Ganesh S Hingmire filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court, alleging that the Milan showcase amounted to cultural misappropriation and unauthorised commercial use of a GI-tagged product.
