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What is the story about?
Italian luxury house Prada has signed an MoU with two government-backed leather development corporations, Maharashtra’s LIDCOM (Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation Ltd) and Karnataka’s LIDKAR (Dr Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industries Development Corporation Ltd), to develop a limited-edition footwear line inspired by Kolhapuri chappals.
The Kolhapuri-inspired collection is scheduled to launch globally in February 2026 across 40 Prada stores and on the brand’s official e-commerce platform.
This collaboration comes after Prada faced heat after its models in the recent Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection walked the runway in Milan wearing sandals that looked like the Kolhapuri chappal. After backlash, Prada acknowledged that it was inspired by 'traditional Indian handcrafted footwear', and also said that it would send its team to explore any possibility of collaboration on the product in the near future.
While the company did not reveal the pricing of the limited edition collection, Prada’s senior executive Lorenzo Bertelli told Reuters that each pair will be priced at around 800 euros, which translates to approximately
₹
84,500 per pair.
The MoU was formalised on Wednesday at the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai during the Italy–India Business Forum, under which the parties will collaborate on the "PRADA Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals" project.
The collection will feature sandals manufactured in India using traditional techniques from artisan clusters across Maharashtra and Karnataka, which are the two states where Kolhapuri chappals are historically crafted. Prada will integrate these methods with its own design approach and materials.
Kolhapuri chappals are produced across eight districts: four in Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur) and four in Karnataka (Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Bijapur). The craft received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019.
"Our collaboration with LIDCOM and LIDKAR stems from a meaningful cultural exchange, where every voice contributed to creating not just a product, but a broader initiative. We are proud to announce the launch of this collection, and we are committed to develop training programs supporting Indian artisans and ensuring that their exceptional craftsmanship secures its place in today’s evolving industry," Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said in a statement.
LIDCOM Managing Director Prerna Deshbhratar said the project builds on sustained dialogue between the organisations and aims to recognise artisans who have preserved the GI-tagged craft. LIDKAR Managing Director K.M. Vasundhara said the collaboration is expected to open new opportunities for artisans through training and livelihood programmes.
The initiative is part of Prada’s long-running "Made In…" programme, launched over a decade ago to work with craftspeople globally. As part of the India partnership, the Prada Group — working with LIDCOM and LIDKAR — will design local training modules modelled on the Prada Group Academy to help artisans upgrade skills while maintaining traditional methods. The programme will also target youth engagement in artisan communities.
The Kolhapuri-inspired collection is scheduled to launch globally in February 2026 across 40 Prada stores and on the brand’s official e-commerce platform.
This collaboration comes after Prada faced heat after its models in the recent Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection walked the runway in Milan wearing sandals that looked like the Kolhapuri chappal. After backlash, Prada acknowledged that it was inspired by 'traditional Indian handcrafted footwear', and also said that it would send its team to explore any possibility of collaboration on the product in the near future.
While the company did not reveal the pricing of the limited edition collection, Prada’s senior executive Lorenzo Bertelli told Reuters that each pair will be priced at around 800 euros, which translates to approximately
The MoU was formalised on Wednesday at the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai during the Italy–India Business Forum, under which the parties will collaborate on the "PRADA Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals" project.
The collection will feature sandals manufactured in India using traditional techniques from artisan clusters across Maharashtra and Karnataka, which are the two states where Kolhapuri chappals are historically crafted. Prada will integrate these methods with its own design approach and materials.
Kolhapuri chappals are produced across eight districts: four in Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur) and four in Karnataka (Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Bijapur). The craft received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019.
"Our collaboration with LIDCOM and LIDKAR stems from a meaningful cultural exchange, where every voice contributed to creating not just a product, but a broader initiative. We are proud to announce the launch of this collection, and we are committed to develop training programs supporting Indian artisans and ensuring that their exceptional craftsmanship secures its place in today’s evolving industry," Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said in a statement.
LIDCOM Managing Director Prerna Deshbhratar said the project builds on sustained dialogue between the organisations and aims to recognise artisans who have preserved the GI-tagged craft. LIDKAR Managing Director K.M. Vasundhara said the collaboration is expected to open new opportunities for artisans through training and livelihood programmes.
The initiative is part of Prada’s long-running "Made In…" programme, launched over a decade ago to work with craftspeople globally. As part of the India partnership, the Prada Group — working with LIDCOM and LIDKAR — will design local training modules modelled on the Prada Group Academy to help artisans upgrade skills while maintaining traditional methods. The programme will also target youth engagement in artisan communities.
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