IPR Awareness & Innovation Promotion Forum

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚 × 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐥: 𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐆𝐈 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The ordinary Indian chappal is now set to walk the high street of global fashion. Italian luxury house Prada has signed an MoU to launch a limited-edition line of Kolhapuri Chappals—around 2,000 handcrafted pairs made in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Interestingly, this comes months after Prada faced criticism for cultural misappropriation of Kolhapuri-inspired designs.
But this time, the difference is clear:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐆𝐈).
Kolhapuri Chappal is a Registered GI, legally belonging to artisans of specific clusters in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
This means only authentic producers from these regions can use the name “Kolhapuri.”
Any misuse or misrepresentation can be legally challenged under the GI Act, 1999.
Prada’s decision to source directly from GI-certified artisans is a powerful acknowledgement of this protection.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐈
🔹 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬
Only certified artisans can use the GI name—protecting heritage from misuse.
🔹 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐬
A luxury brand’s collaboration shows the prestige a GI carries internationally.
🔹 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
GI protection ensures global brands must collaborate ethically and transparently.
🔹 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 & 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐬
Fair value, better income, sustainable livelihoods, and inter-generational skill preservation.
🔹 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
The craft, identity, and tradition behind the Kolhapuri Chappal remain protected and respected.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞-𝐢𝐧-𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚, 𝐆𝐈-𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 €𝟖𝟎𝟎 (₹𝟖𝟒,𝟎𝟎𝟎+)
Available in 40 select Prada stores worldwide and online.
Prada has no official fashion retail store in India.

When GIs are protected, artisans prosper.
When GIs are ignored, cultures suffer.
The Prada–Kolhapuri story is a reminder of the strength of India's GI system—and why GI awareness and enforcement are essential for empowering traditional artisan communities.