Following the controversy following last summer’s men’s fashion show, Italian luxury fashion house Prada admitted that some sandals shown on the runway were actually inspired by the iconic Indian Kolhapuri shoes. Today, the company said in a statement that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation Ltd (Lidcom) and Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd (Lidkar). The government organizations protect, promote and develop the Indian leather industry and the heritage of Kolhapuri chappal sandals.
The MoU was signed yesterday at the Italian Consulate General in Mumbai. This happened on the occasion of the Business Forum Italia-India in Mumbai. The agreement defines the path, implementation modalities and guidelines of the ‘Prada made in India x inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals’ project. The project celebrates Indian craftsmanship excellence through a limited edition sandals. These are made in India in collaboration with qualified craftsmen from Maharashtra and Karnataka. There, the traditional Kolhapuri chappal is made by hand, explains a release.
“Our collaboration with Lidcom and Lidkar comes from a significant cultural exchange. Each party has contributed to creating not just a product, but an initiative of greater impact,” emphasized Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Prada Group (Prada Group). “We are proud to announce the launch of this collection. We are committed to developing training programs to support India’s artisans, ensuring that exceptional craftsmanship finds appropriate space in today’s industry.”
The collection will be available in 40 selected Prada stores and on the official e-commerce platform from February 2026.
The Kolhapuri Chappal is made in eight districts. Four are in Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur) and four in Karnataka (Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Bijapur). In 2019, the sandals received Geographical Indication (GI) certification. This is to protect authenticity and cultural value.
This initiative represents a new chapter in the ‘Made In…’ project, which Prada launched over ten years ago to celebrate artisanal excellence worldwide. The goal is to identify master craftsmen. The aim is to work with them to create contemporary and innovative designs. These are intended to embody an incomparable quality standard that transcends geographical boundaries.
In addition, through this initiative, Prada Group will define and implement local training programs in collaboration with Lidcom and Lidkar. This follows the Prada Group Academy model to help craftsmen expand their skills. At the same time, the craftsmanship excellence that inspired the project is preserved.
The aim is to promote the exchange of skills and knowledge. This is intended to ensure the continuity of these techniques. It also creates learning opportunities for young people in local communities.
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