From Chappal To Chai: After Kohlapuri, Prada Goes Desi Again! Makes Elaichi Chai Perfumes - Can You Guess The Price?

Italian luxury fashion house Prada has once again drawn inspiration from India—this time from one of the country’s most beloved daily rituals. After last year’s Kolhapuri chappal controversy, the brand

has unveiled a unisex “chai”-inspired fragrance titled Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum.Part of Prada’s Les Infusions collection, the perfume blends creamy sandalwood with the warm, spicy notes of chai latte, layered with citrus and cardamom to create a woody, aromatic finish. The fragrance is priced at around $190 (approximately Rs 17,000), according to Prada’s official website.The bottle design reflects the theme, featuring warm brown glass paired with a camel-coloured Saffiano leather cap—evoking the look and comfort of a cup of tea. Announcing the launch on Instagram, Prada wrote: “A new Infusion, stirred differently. Meet Infusion de Santal Chai.”The launch quickly sparked reactions online. While some users expressed excitement—“Omg I want to try!! Love the chai”—others highlighted the growing global appeal of Indian traditions, with one comment reading, “Every Indian product like Kolhapuri chappal, Paithani, food products and chai is great and useful for the world.”The perfume launch also revived memories of Prada’s Kolhapuri chappal controversy in India. In 2025, a public interest litigation was filed in the Bombay High Court accusing the brand of copying traditional Kolhapuri designs for its summer collection.Following the backlash, Prada engaged with Indian artisans and, by December, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Maharashtra’s LIDCOM and Karnataka’s LIDKAR under the initiative “Prada Made in India – Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals.” The collaboration aims to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern design.As part of the project, a limited-edition run of 2,000 Kolhapuri chappals will be produced, priced at around €800 (Rs 84,000) per pair. The collection is scheduled to launch in February 2026 across 40 Prada stores globally and online.Prada executive Lorenzo Bertelli told Reuters that the initiative seeks to bring global visibility to the craft while ensuring fair compensation and skill development for artisans, including training opportunities in India and at Prada’s academy in Italy. Prerna Deshbhratar, Managing Director of LIDCOM, noted that global brand backing could naturally boost demand for the traditional footwear.