Prada’s fashion-forward moment at Milan Fashion Week has landed it in hot water and this time, it’s not just about runway drama. The luxury brand showcased a pair of toe-ring leather sandals that looked way too similar to India’s iconic Kolhapuri chappals, and now a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court calling them out for cultural appropriation.The PIL, filed by Prof Adv Ganesh S Hingmire (an expert in Geographical Indications and no stranger to protecting Indian crafts), is demanding that Prada publicly apologise and compensate the artisans of Kolhapur who’ve been making these traditional sandals for centuries. The filing accuses Prada of ignoring the cultural roots and GI tag of Kolhapuri chappals, and instead passing off the style as their own slick designer creation.
Basically, the claim is this: Prada took a centuries-old Indian design, gave it a runway rebrand, and didn’t give the original makers a shred of credit or cash. The petition says this isn’t just an “oops, we were inspired” situation. It’s economic and intellectual exploitation of an entire community that’s kept the craft alive for generations.Sure, Prada did put out a statement saying their sandals were “inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear” and that they “deeply recognize the cultural significance” but let’s be honest, that’s not quite enough to undo the damage. The petition is pushing for a proper public apology, one that goes out on all platforms – digital, print, and even Prada’s own socials.
It’s also asking the court to get the government to step in and protect indigenous artisans from this kind of creative theft in the future. We’re talking legal protections, proper financial support, and maybe even a global framework so that Indian crafts with GI tags don’t keep getting knocked off without credit.The bigger picture here? This isn’t just about a sandal. It’s about years of hard work, heritage, and art being reduced to a trendy product by a global brand without giving the people behind it their due. And honestly, it’s about time the world started treating Indian craftsmanship as more than just a “fashion inspiration.”
