Prada will produce a limited-edition line of sandals in India inspired by the country’s traditional footwear, with each pair expected to retail at around US $ 930, after transforming a cultural appropriation controversy into a formal collaboration with Indian artisans. The initiative was confirmed by senior executive Lorenzo Bertelli, who noted that the move blends luxury design with heritage craftsmanship.
The Italian fashion house plans to manufacture 2,000 pairs in Maharashtra and Karnataka under agreements with two state-backed bodies. According to Bertelli, who serves as chief marketing officer and leads the group’s corporate social responsibility efforts, the project will combine local artisanal skills with Italian production expertise. He stated that the company would integrate “the original manufacturer’s standard capabilities” with Prada’s own techniques.
The collection is scheduled to launch in February 2026 across 40 Prada stores globally and through the brand’s online channels. The collaboration follows criticism six months earlier, when Prada showcased designs in Milan that closely resembled 12th-century Kolhapuri chappals, sparking strong reactions from Indian artisans and policymakers. Prada later acknowledged drawing on historic Indian styles and initiated discussions with artisan organisations, culminating in agreements with the Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation (LIDCOM) and the Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation (LIDKAR).
The partnership—intended to run for three years—is still being finalised. It will introduce training programmes for artisans in India as well as short-term placements at Prada’s Academy in Italy. Artisan representatives hope the collaboration will help revive the craft by raising incomes, attracting younger workers and protecting traditional techniques from declining demand and low-cost imitations. Prerna Deshbhratar, managing director of LIDCOM, said the endorsement by a global luxury house was expected to stimulate demand, noting that recognition from Prada would generate a wider “domino effect” for the craft.
Bertelli added that the collaboration and training investment would amount to several million euros and stressed that artisans would receive fair compensation. He also clarified that Prada does not plan to open new retail stores or establish manufacturing facilities in India in the coming year, although the company is considering entering the market independently within three to five years. He described India as holding “the real potential” for new luxury growth, emphasising a preference for entering the country without local conglomerate partnerships, even if that approach requires more time.
