For a long time the Kolhapuri chappal was something you bought on a trip to Kolhapur or from a stall on a busy street. Then, in June 2025, it walked down a runway in Milan. What happened next changed who is searching for it — and that is an opportunity for every small maker.
What happened with Prada, in short
- June 2025: Prada's Spring 2026 menswear show included leather sandals that looked very much like Kolhapuri chappals.
- The backlash: people in India pointed out the design came from Kolhapur's artisans, who were not credited.
- The response: Prada partnered with LIDCOM and LIDKAR, the Maharashtra and Karnataka leather bodies that hold the Kolhapuri GI tag (granted in 2009).
- 2026: a limited edition of sandals made by artisans from Maharashtra and Karnataka went on sale in select Prada stores and online, along with a three-year training programme for young artisans.
Why this matters to a small workshop
Millions of people now know the name. They search for "Kolhapuri chappal Prada", "original Kolhapuri chappal" and "handmade Kolhapuri online". Most of what they find are marketplace listings with no maker's name and no story.
A workshop with its own website can show something no marketplace can: the family, the hands, the leather and the stitch. That is exactly what the story is about now.
A simple plan to sell online
- Show the making. Photos of the tanned leather, the hand-stitching and the sole. A short video if you can.
- Name the style. Kapashi, pukari, bakkal — put the name in the product title. Buyers search by style.
- Be honest about GI. Say "GI-tagged craft" only if the pair is made by a registered artisan in the GI area.
- Explain the price. One honest line on how a handmade pair differs from a machine-made copy.
- Only sell what is ready. Set stock to pairs actually finished. Do not take money for pairs you cannot make in time.
- Give size advice. Kolhapuris soften and stretch a little. One line prevents most exchanges.
- Ask for reviews. "Real leather, hand-stitched" from a buyer is worth more than any adjective.
Watch out for copies
After any trend, machine-made copies arrive within days. They look similar in photos and cost a fraction. Your answer is clear photos of the sole and stitch, an honest description, and buyer reviews. Buyers who paid attention to the Prada story care about who made the chappal. Tell them.
How we can help
We build online stores for makers across India, starting at a one-time ₹4,990 with no monthly fee and no commission. See our page on ecommerce website development in Kolhapur or the ecommerce website for footwear sellers.
Sources: Prada Group press release (2026), WWD, DD News, The Tribune.
FAQs
What was the Prada Kolhapuri controversy?
In June 2025 Prada showed sandals resembling Kolhapuri chappals in its Spring 2026 menswear show without crediting Kolhapur's artisans. After the backlash, Prada partnered with LIDCOM and LIDKAR on a limited edition made by Indian artisans.
Does the Kolhapuri chappal have a GI tag?
Yes. The Kolhapuri chappal received a Geographical Indication in 2009, held by LIDCOM and LIDKAR for the Maharashtra and Karnataka districts where it is made.
How can a small maker sell Kolhapuri chappals online?
Show the making, name the style, be honest about GI, explain the price against machine copies, sell only finished stock, give size advice and collect reviews.
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