Rs 84,000 A Pair: Prada & Kolhapuri Turn 'Solemates', Luxury Brand To Sell 'Made In India' Chappals

Italian luxury fashion house Prada has formalised a significant partnership with two state-backed Indian agencies, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a limited-edition collection of sandals inspired by the iconic Kolhapuri Chappal. The collaboration, finalised on Thursday at the Italian Consulate in Mumbai, aims to blend centuries-old Indian craftsmanship with Prada’s contemporary design.

The MoU was signed with the Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation (LIDCOM) in Maharashtra and the Dr Babu Jagjivanram Leather Industries Development Corporation (LIDKAR) in Karnataka. These two bodies represent the artisan communities in the eight districts across the two states where the traditional Kolhapuri

Chappal—which received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019—is handcrafted.

The initiative, titled “PRADA Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals”, will produce a collection of approximately 2,000 pairs of sandals. A senior Prada executive confirmed the premium pricing, stating each pair is expected to retail for around €800 (approximately Rs 84,000), in stark contrast to the modest price of traditional Kolhapuris in the domestic market. The collection is scheduled to debut globally in February 2026 across 40 select Prada stores and its official e-commerce platform.

This collaborative venture follows a period of controversy earlier in the year when Prada faced significant backlash for showcasing a sandal in its Milan show that closely resembled the Kolhapuri Chappal without acknowledging its Indian origin, leading to accusations of cultural appropriation. The formal partnership is being framed as an ethical move, giving full credit and direct economic opportunity to the artisans.

Beyond the immediate collection, the three-year agreement includes a strategic component focused on skill preservation and empowerment. Prada, through its Corporate Social Responsibility wing, will define and implement local training programs aimed at helping artisans upscale their skills while strictly preserving the traditional craftsmanship that is the core of the GI-tagged product. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the agreement as a “truly global collab” and expressed optimism that such a high-profile endorsement could elevate the Kolhapuri chappal export potential to US$1 billion annually.