The luxury brand recognizes the Indian roots to design shoes after a violent reaction

The luxury Italian fashion brand Prada said it recognizes the Indian roots of its new shoe line, days after the design of a controversy in India.

The sandals, which were shown at Milan Fashion Week last week, had an open brake style similar to traditional sandals in Colybouri made in the Indian states in Maharashtra and Carnataka.

Prada described the sandals as “leather shoes” but did not mention its Indian origins, which prompted a violent reaction and the allegations of cultural allocation in India.

In response to the controversy, he told Prada BBC in a statement that he realizes that the sandals are inspired by traditional Indian shoes.

A Prada spokesman said that the company “has always celebrated the traditions of heritage, heritage and design,” adding that it is “in contact with the Maharashtra Trade Chamber, Industry and Agriculture on this topic.”

Last week, a prominent commercial organization wrote to the brand, saying that the design was marketed without being attributed to craftsmen who have maintained its heritage for generations.

Lorenzo Bertelli, head of the corporate social responsibility in Prada, replied to his message that the sandals were “at an early stage of design,” according to Reuters.

He also said that Prada was open to a “dialogue of meaningful exchange with local Indian craftsmen” and that the company will organize follow -up meetings to discuss this.

It was called the name of a city in Maharashtra, where it is made, Kolhapore’s sandal follows its roots to the twelfth century.

Made of leather and sometimes dyed in natural colors, traditional handcrafted sandals are solid and perfectly suitable for the hot climate in India.

They obtained a geographical signal mode (GI) by the Indian government in 2019.

According to the World Trade Organization, the geographic signal that depends on the good or the product that it originated from a specific area or place, is considered a brand.

In the aftermath of the controversy, many craftsmen in Kulhabor said that they were saddened by the use of Prada to design without giving credit.

“These sandals are made of hard work for leather workers in Coelham. They must be named after the Kulhabor’s name. Do not benefit from the work of others.”

The sandals cost a few hundred rupees in India, but the excellent Prada pricing angered some.

This cruel industrial Gwnca highlighted this, saying that local craftsmen hardly earn any money for the same handcrafted products. “They are losing, while global brands benefit from our culture,” he said.

This is not the first time that global brands have been accused of allocating traditional Indian products without attributing their roots.

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Gucci Sari was described by Bollywood star Alia Bhatt as a dress, which raises a violent reaction.

Earlier in May, the famous Tiktok direction was criticized for the invitation of Dupatta, the traditional South Asia scarf, and the Scandinavian scarf.

However, in Kulheeh, some said this step has instilled a sense of pride in it.

“The craftsmen are happy that someone is getting to know his work,” Dilip, a Collehab businessman in Reuters, told “Collapor’s businessman” more Reuters.

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