What's old is new again, but this time, with a designer price tag. Italian luxury house Prada recently unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 Men’s Collection and left desi fashion lovers stunned – not in admiration, but in disbelief. At the centre of the conversation is nothing but footwear that looked strikingly familiar to the iconic Kolhapuri chappals, a staple of Indian traditional wear, which is now rebranded under a European fashion label.
The moment the models took to the runway in what appeared to be a sleek interpretation of this indigenous Indian design, social media lit up. Some were amused. Many were outraged. And most questioned the lack of cultural credit.
Fashion critics calls it out
Celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania didn't hold back. She reshared a picture of the Prada show on Instagram, pointing out exactly what many were thinking: these weren't just any designer sandals; they were "a pair of good old Kolhapuri chappals."
Anaita Shroff Adajania's Instagram |
Not one to stay silent, Instagram's outspoken fashion critic Diet Sabya also jumped into the conversation with a post that was equal parts witty and biting. The page stated, "Not to be that nagging aunty but are we ready for a Prada Kolhapuri that’ll cost us £1,000 (approx. Rs 1.17 Lakh) a pair? And that’ll be ‘Fashion’ because Europeans will suddenly start wearing it. Quite interesting if you think about it."
Diet Sabya also highlighted how luxury labels are increasingly sourcing craftsmanship from India, only to slap a Western name on it and hike the price. “All that embroidery, all that artisanal flex, all produced in India. Always has been,” they added.
Aprajita Toor, Footwear designer and Founder of APRAJITA TOOR expressed, "It’s encouraging to see Indian designs like the Kolhapuri enter the global fashion dialogue, but it’s equally important that their origins are honoured. When luxury brands reference traditional crafts without crediting the culture or the artisans behind them, it’s not homage, it’s an oversight. These aren’t just trends; they’re legacies. And the legacy belongs to the people who’ve kept it alive. If the world is watching now, let it also listen. Recognition without credit is not a celebration, it’s appropriation. The story deserves to be told fully, with our craftsmen at the centre of it."
Internet reacts: From Sarojini to Milan
Netizens, as always, had thoughts – and they didn't hold back. Comments like "How easily brands take away the OG identity and think it’s ok to do that… Guts" and "Sarojini went international" dominated the internet.
Another user expressed, "What's new? Take something from us and rebrand them and call it avant garde. I see exploitation. 🙃"
Screenshot from Diet sabya's Instagram
One wrote, “These joggers are at every street vendor in Delhi’s Lajpat, Sarojini, Karol Bagh, etc. markets 😮💨 for ₹150-300 🥲.”
So, is an over Rs 1 lakh Kolhapuri chappal fashion-forward or tone-deaf? That's for you to decide. But if anything, this moment reminds us that sometimes, high fashion just looks like your local bazaar.
