India-made Prada sandals debut at $930 after backlash

Italian luxury brand faced criticism six months ago after showing sandals resembling 12th-century Indian footwear, known as Kolhapuri chappals, at a Milan show

- REUTERS

Prada will make a limited-edition collection of sandals in India inspired by the country's traditional footwear, selling each pair at around 800 euros ($930), Prada senior executive Lorenzo Bertelli told Reuters, turning a backlash over cultural appropriation into a collaboration with Indian artisans.

The Italian luxury group plans to make 2,000 pairs of the sandals in the regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka under a deal with two state-backed bodies, blending local Indian craftsmanship with Italian technology and know-how.

"Weill mix the original manufacturer's standard capabilities with our manufacturing tech-

niques", Bertelli, who is chief marketing officer and head of corporate social responsibility, told Reuters in an interview.

The collection will go on sale in February 2026 across 40 Prada stores worldwide and online, the company said.