Prada meets Kolhapur

Luxury, they say, lies in the details. The hand-stitched seam, the precise curve of a heel, the shimmer of something well-made and hard-earned. So, when global fashion house Prada recently unveiled a pair of elegant, Kolhapuri-inspired sandals priced at a cool ₹1.6 lakhs, it naturally turned heads. But the real artisans behind this form… the ones who’ve been crafting Kolhapuris for generations in dusty workshops with quiet precision, were nowhere in sight. Not in the credits, not in the story, not even in the footnote.

It’s not scandalous. It’s not new. It’s just… disappointing. As TheGlitz sees it, if you’re borrowing from heritage, the least you can do is not ghost the hands that built it.

Prada Show: Craft in the Shadows

Let’s pause for a moment and talk about Kolhapuris. They’re not just footwear. They’re part of a living tradition from Maharashtra, honed over centuries by craftsmen who pass their skills down like heirlooms. Each pair speaks of form, function, and flair, woven into India’s cultural fabric with understated pride. They’ve walked through royal courts, bustling bazaars, and now, apparently, into the marble halls of Milan.

But while the sandals may have gotten their couture glow-up, the cultural context seems to have been left at baggage claim.

A Gentle Reminder to the Fashion Gods

We’re not asking for grand gestures. No dramatic “handmade by so-and-so” stitched in gold thread. Just a little credit where credit is due. A line in the press release. A nod in the caption. A respectful acknowledgement that inspiration has a source and sometimes, that source wears chappals and carries decades of heritage in their hands.

…Because if you’re going to put a six-figure price tag on a design born in Kolhapur, the least one can do is acknowledge Kolhapur.

What Fashion Forgets

It’s easy to romanticize a silhouette and turn it into a global style moment. It’s harder but infinitely more rewarding, to build a narrative that includes the people who shaped that silhouette in the first place. In a world hungry for authenticity, transparency is the new luxury.

So why leave out the story? Why not let the artisans from Kolhapur walk this runway with you, even symbolically? Their hands, after all, have done the heavy lifting long before the design boards were ever mood-boarded in Milan.

Redefining Elegance

Prada is a brand known for restraint, sophistication, and an ability to surprise. This could have been one of those moments. A brand of that stature crediting Indian craft would’ve been more than a PR win… it would’ve been a cultural bridge. It would’ve said, “Yes, we see you. Yes, you matter.”

Because true elegance lies not just in the material things we wear, but in the conversations we create around them.

What Could’ve Been (And Still Can Be)

Imagine a Prada campaign that doesn’t just feature Kolhapuri silhouettes, but also the story of the artisans. Imagine a capsule collection that partners directly with Indian craftsmen, shares design royalties, or simply features their name.

The world doesn’t need another sandal. But it could certainly use more respectful collaborations. And if the design came from a village lane, it deserves to walk proudly across global stages with its origins celebrated, not softened into silence.

While Luxury Labels Profit, Bollywood Stays Silent: Not a Word from Celebs

But what’s very curious is that while most Indian celebs remained mum about this fashion “rip-off”, illustrious journalist and author Shobhaa De who is normally pretty vociferous on most issues, also underplayed this by stating: “All’s fair in Fashion, Love & War”, while flaunting her personalised Prada sandal.

TheGlitz Last Word

Fashion is at its most powerful when it lifts, not just reinvents. When it pays homage, not just borrows. When it remembers where things come from… and who made them. So, here’s hoping the next time inspiration strikes, the fine print reads like a tribute, not a footnote.

Kolhapuri Update

Kolhapuri Chappal Artisans Urge CM Fadnavis to Act Against Cultural Appropriation by European Brand

A delegation of Kolhapuri chappal manufacturers met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising concerns over cultural appropriation by the European luxury brand. The artisans accused the brand of replicating their traditional craft without giving due credit, while overshadowing their authentic craftsmanship.

Led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik, the delegation urged the Chief Minister to escalate the matter to the central government. According to a leader present at the meeting, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Fadnavis assured the group that he would bring the issue to the Centre’s attention.

Mahadik also revealed plans to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against Italian fashion house Prada in the Bombay High Court. He said, “We will soon move the court with a litigation against Prada.”

…Until then, Kolhapur will continue doing what it does best: crafting heritage with its hands. Quietly. Beautifully. And despite the missing credits, undeniably.