5 months ago
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Prada, an Italian planetary luxury manner house, has signed a memorandum of knowing with 2 authorities organisations— LIDCOM and LIDKAR— to root sandals, inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals.
The MoU was signed connected Wednesday (December 11, 2025) betwixt Prada, LIDCOM (Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation Ltd) and LIDKAR (Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd) astatine the Consulate General of Italy successful Mumbai, according to a associated statement.
"The statement sets retired the framework, implementation and guidance of the 'PRADA Made successful India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals' project, which volition observe Indian craftsmanship done a limited-edition postulation of sandals," it said.
Both LIDCOM and LIDKAR are dedicated to preserving and promoting the Indian leather manufacture and the practice of Kolhapuri Chappals.
These volition beryllium manufactured successful India successful collaboration with skilled artisans from the Maharashtra and Karnataka regions, wherever the accepted Kolhapuri Chappals are handcrafted.
"Combining accepted techniques with Prada's modern plan and premium materials, the postulation creates a unsocial dialog betwixt Indian practice and modern luxury expression," it said.
Traditional Kolhapuri Chappals, which have a unsocial Geographical Indication (GI) tag since 2019— are manufactured crossed 8 districts— 4 successful Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur) and 4 successful Karnataka (Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Bijapur).
Earlier successful June this year, the planetary manner location faced disapproval for leather sandals successful its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which intimately resembled the accepted Indian Kolhapuri Chappal. It had sparked accusations of taste appropriation and a usurpation of the Kolhapuri's GI tag, and the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture had communicated this to Prada.
Though Prada had denied infringement, citing inspiration and avoiding the name, however, it had agreed to spouse with Indian artisans for aboriginal collections.
Through this initiative, Prada Group, successful collaboration with LIDCOM and LIDKAR, volition person locally grooming programmes aimed astatine helping artisans upscale their skills portion preserving the accepted craftsmanship that inspired the project, pursuing the exemplary of the Prada Group Academy.
"The purpose is to foster the speech of skills and knowledge, ensuring that these techniques proceed to thrive, portion creating learning opportunities for young radical wrong section communities," it said.
