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Italian luxury fashion brand Prada will collaborate with artisans from India’s Maharashtra and Karnataka to create sandals inspired by Kolhapuri slippers. For this, Prada has signed an MoU with government institutions Lidcom and Lidcar. The collection will launch in February 2026 across 40 select stores across the world and on Prada’s online platform, combining Indian traditional craftsmanship with Prada’s modern designs.
New Delhi. Italy’s famous fashion company Prada has decided to spread the skills of India’s Kolhapuri artisans to the world. The company has signed an MoU with Lidcom of Maharashtra and Lidcar of Karnataka to manufacture a new sandal line. This partnership will create a special collection by combining the traditional art of Kolhapuri slippers with the modern designs of Prada.
The MoU was signed at the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai. Prada says that this project will give a new identity to Indian handicrafts on the global stage. The company is preparing to include this new India inspired design in its Spring Summer 2026 collection. Prada will launch it as a limited edition, which will have a mix of traditional technology and premium materials.
The government called this partnership a big opportunity for India.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has also welcomed this step. Goyal told reporters that he was very happy to come together with Prada and Indian artisans. He said that Maharashtra’s slippers have the potential to become a global brand. He also said that he always imagined that the export of Kolhapuri slippers could reach 1 billion US dollars and now this dream is closer to reality. Goyal also recalled that he himself used to wear Kolhapuri slippers in his childhood and he believes that once leather slippers become a habit, people do not choose any other option.
Kolhapuri slippers got GI tag in 2019
Kolhapuri slippers have been the identity of not only Maharashtra but many districts of Karnataka. In 2019, they got the GI tag which gave legal and global recognition to this traditional art. These slippers are made by the artisans of Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur along with Belagavi, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Bijapur.
When controversy arose over Prada’s collection
In June 2025, some sandals in Prada’s Spring Summer 2026 collection looked very similar to Kolhapuri slippers. Critics saw this as a misuse of cultural identity. Prada denied these allegations and said that the design was merely inspired. During this time, the company agreed to work directly with Indian artisans in future, which has now come in the form of this MOU.
Training program to upgrade the skills of artisans
Under this partnership, Prada Group, Lidcom and Lidcar will run training camps for local artisans. In these, training will be given in modern design, stitching and global standards along with traditional techniques so that Indian artisans can get better recognition in the international markets. Prada’s collection is going to be launched in February 2026 at 40 selected stores and e-commerce platforms of the company.
