Overview
- Prada, which began sales Monday, released a limited Kolhapuri-inspired sandal made in India for about €750 through 40 stores and its website.
- Production is arranged in Maharashtra and Karnataka with state-backed partners LIDCOM and LIDKAR, following December agreements that outlined plans for 2,000 pairs.
- Prada is funding a three-year training program that will teach 180 artisans in six-month modules at NIFT and KILT, with applications opening in May and classes starting this summer.
- Select trainees will have a chance to continue at the Prada Group Academy in Italy to deepen technical skills.
- Reaction remains mixed as critics question credit and pricing compared with locally sold Kolhapuri chappals that often cost ₹500–₹1,000, a craft protected with a 2019 Geographical Indication tag across eight districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka.