Put your best foot forward

PRADA'S KOLHAPURI DEBACLE DEMONSTRATES THE PERILS OF ME-TOO BRANDING

- GEETIKA SRIVASTAVA

WHEN PRADA debuted its leather sandals during the Spring/Summer 2026 show in Milan, the backlash was swift. Eagle-eyed fashion aficionados called out their unmistakable resemblance to India's traditional Kohlapuri chappals, and accused the Italian luxury house of cultural appropriation. By the time Prada acknowledged the Indian origin, the debate had spiraled beyond humdrum footwear to the larger issue of brand flex and ethics.

It's no secret that the runways of fashion are strewn with examples of work where original creators are either overlooked or not properly compensated. But in a connected world, designers are finding it tough to get away with it. Such me-too branding—to put it mildly—can lead to an erosion of consumer trust, say experts. "The long-term brand equity risk comes not from the noise, but from the feeling of being overlooked, uncredited and unheard," says Ambika Sharma, founder & chief strategist at Pulp Strategy.