Kolhapuris go the Prada way

With the Italian luxury brand Prada signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two government organisations that represent the interests of the Kolhapuri chappal makers, the curtain appears to have come down on a part of the controversy that erupted in June-July this year.

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Under the MoU, Kolhapuri chappals will be designed and manufactured, combining the centuries-old traditional approach and Prada’s contemporary design sensibilities. The exclusive chappal sets will be available at Prada’s retail outlets and on its official website from February next year. With this, the Indian open-toe footwear can truly be said to have arrived on the global luxury stage, but the story goes deeper than that.