In June 2025, Italian luxury brand Prada unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 menswear collection featuring open-toe leather sandals. These featured the design elements, construction and overall aesthetic of the centuries-old, handcrafted footwear popularly known as ‘Kolhapuri chappals’, without acknowledging the geographical source or giving any credit to the artisans of Kolhapur.
Inevitably, it sparked outrage in India, not only because Prada priced its product at ₹1.2 lakh approximately per pair, but also because it is yet another instance where the might of giant commercial entities operating from foreign soil succeeded in eclipsing the identity and legitimate interests of economically weaker communities of Indian entrepreneurs.