In what can be considered a full-circle moment, Prada has announced that it will work with two Indian government organisations to release a limited edition collection of leather sandals inspired by the country’s traditional Kolhapuris.
According to a report by Reuters, the Italian house will make 2,000 pairs of sandals, priced at $939 (approximately Dhs 3,450), and will be sold online and in 40 Prada stores globally from February 2026 onwards. These sandals will be made in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the two Indian states known for making Kolhapuris. This deal comes under a “Memorandum of Understanding”, which the Italian label signed with LIDCOM (Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation Ltd) and LIDKAR (Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd) at the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai, India.
The controversial silhouette was first seen on Prada’s Menswear SS26 show, which quickly prompted discussion online about the South Asian craft. On one hand, it was exciting to witness South Asian craftsmanship go global but on the other, people questioned if this was a matter of inspiration or appropriation. The slip-ons, which have covered the feet from Bollywood stars to the everyday man, are a centuries-old craft, dating back to the 12th century. The new design it inspires will be under the “Prada Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals” project. This project will platform local artisans while the traditional sandal gets its due credit.
This is just another example of the tide shifting on South Asian fashion. For the longest time, global fashion was dictated by a Eurocentric lens, where “inspiration” could be borrowed without a mere mention of its true origins. Now, a new era is beginning where labels across the world are being platformed on the same stage, where craftsmanship can no longer be borrowed without its due credit. Although long overdue, we are finally witnessing the democratising of the global runway.
