Kolhapuri chappals trace their origins to the 12th century (Source: Express Photo by Pavan Khengre)

By the time Prada’s Spring-Summer 2026 menswear show wrapped up in Milan last June, the applause had barely faded before the outrage began. On the runway were toe-loop leather sandals that looked unmistakably familiar to anyone who has ever walked the lanes of Kolhapur or browsed a Maharashtra handicrafts fair.

Prada’s show notes, however, described them simply as “leather sandals,” with no mention of India, no nod to the 12th-century craft tradition they had drawn from so liberally. Now, nearly a year later, Prada is back with the same silhouette. But this time, with a very different story to tell .

The backlash was swift and vocal. India’s fashion community erupted.…