India, July 12 -- On June 25, during its Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show in Milan, Italian luxury fashion house Prada debuted shoes inspired by India's GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappals, which elicited outrage over cultural appropriation. The brand was accused of appropriating traditional Indian craftsmanship without due credit or acknowledgement of its cultural and geographic origins. A major ethical and legal controversy has arisen between the globally renowned luxury fashion house Prada and the traditional, handmade leather footwear known as Kolhapuri chappals, which have deep cultural roots in India.
Traditional Kolhapuri chappal manufacturers are preparing to file a lawsuit against Prada, asserting that the company's latest shoe series ha...