Prada seeks to mend ties with ‘Made in India’ sandals

Prada is launching a limited-edition range of Indian-made sandals inspired by traditional Kolhapuri footwear, less than a year after the Italian luxury group faced a backlash for showcasing similar designs without crediting their origins.

Each pair will be priced at about 750 euros ($881), according to Prada’s website.

The launch follows , when Prada showed sandals resembling centuries-old Indian Kolhapuri chappals at a Milan fashion show. The designs sparked outrage ⁠among Indian artisans and politicians, who accused the brand of cultural appropriation.

Prada later acknowledged the influence of ancient Indian styles and said it had with artisan groups about a collaboration.

In December, Prada announced plans to produce 2,000 pairs of the sandals in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka under agreements with two state-backed bodies, combining local craftsmanship with Italian technology.

The sandals will be sold through 40 selected ⁠Prada stores worldwide and online, the company said in a statement on Monday.

Prada also announced a three-year training programme for artisans from the eight districts in India traditionally associated with Kolhapuri sandal-making. The programme will be ⁠delivered by two leading Indian design institutes in structured six-month modules and is expected to reach 180 artisans, starting next month.

“It is time that Indian traditional ⁠crafts take their rightful place on the world stage,” said Tanu Kashyap, director general at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, ⁠which will offer the training programme.

Artisans will also be given the opportunity to visit the Prada Group Academy in Italy to gain additional technical expertise.

Source: Reuters