From Kolhapur to Milan: How Prada’s ₹77,000 Sandals Put Indian Craft in the Global Spotlight

With​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the newest footwear release, Prada, a luxury fashion house, has unanticipatedly diverted global attention towards India’s handcrafted traditions. Prada’s menswear collection featured a design that closely resembled leather-made sandals that were traditionally handcrafted in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, for centuries.

A Timeless Indian Craft Goes Global

Kolhapuri sandals are not only reputed for their toughness but also for their vegetable-tanned leather and the handiwork done by the skilled hands of the artisan. This footwear has always been made by the local people, and the trend has been for them to gain more recognition for the comfort and quality of their production rather than for the price of the product. Prada’s version of the shoe gives this culturally rich and unpretentious footwear a new stature among the global fashionable elite.

Design That Sparked Conversations

The sandals are made in an open-toe style with braided leather straps and a flat sole features that point up the generic Kolhapuri style most strongly. As these photographs went viral, people could hardly aver that they were comparing the two, hence the discussions concerning the topics of cultural inspiration, inventiveness, and acknowledgement of artisan communities started in great numbers.

Craft vs. Commercial Luxury

Luxury brands are frequently accused of plagiarising indigenous crafts. In the case of Prada, the issue of value attribution due to their pricing and presentation came to the fore. There were numerous instances in which the original Kolhapuris, the price of which is usually less than ₹1,500, were juxtaposed to their luxury counterparts, thus triggering, by implication, the debate on how traditional knowledge is acknowledged globally. Simultaneously with the dispute, the authentic Kolhapuri sandals are a revitalisation of rural artisans and Indian local brands, who benefit. The demand for traditional Indian footwear has gone up in the form of searches and talks that open plenty of opportunities for craftsmen to directly approach international audiences.

A Cultural Moment Beyond Fashion

Prada’s Kolhapuri-inspired sandals have transcended the realm of fashion statements. They embody a moment when heritage, international trade, and cultural identity connect, thus stimulating the audience worldwide to contemplate the topics of craftsmanship, credit, and the real worth of tradition in today’s luxury ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌sector.