Step by Swag: Kolhapur and Prada Rewire Fashion’s Global Footprint

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India's iconic Kolhapuri chappals stormed the global style scene with a bold foray, thanks to a pioneering initiative by the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) and Italian fashion house Prada.

From Controversy to Cooperation
- Prada's Spring-Summer 2026 Milan menswear collection included sandals that looked like Kolhapuri chappals, and there was an outcry of cultural appropriation
- MACCIA moved swiftly, negotiating with Prada to protect the GI-tagged product and its artisan community
- Prada accepted the idea and decided to undertake a formal partnership with artisans in Kolhapur

Main Highlights of Milan-Mumbai Summit
- There was a virtual meeting between Prada officials in Milan and MACCIA officials in Mumbai, attended by Kolhapur traders and artisans
- Prada committed to sending a supply chain team to India to meet with GI-approved manufacturers
- There are also proposals for a Made in India capsule collection in limited quantities with Kolhapuri motifs
- MACCIA recommended expanding the association to include Paithani weaving, Himroo fabrics, and local embroidery

Economic and Cultural Implications - Up to Rs 10,000 per pair—three times the current rate—is what craftsmen can be paid if Prada purchases from them directly

- The venture aims to promote Indian craftsmanship from anonymous supply to overseas spotlight

- Visits to the eco-drying plants and knowledge-sharing forums are scheduled to enhance production This partnership is a breakthrough in global fashion ethics, combining tradition and high-fashion style and helping to promote Indian artisans.

Sources: NDTV, Times of India, WWD, InsightfulTake, Gulf News, MSN India, Economic Times, MACCIA