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News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
After Kareena Kapoor, Neena Gupta Calls Out Prada Over Imitating Kolhapuri Chappals
Last Updated: Neena can be seen proudly wearing a handmade pair of Kolhapuri chappals gifted to her by the late actor Laxmikant Berde. Italian luxury brand Prada is facing backlash for allegedly copying the traditional Kolhapuri chappal design. During the Men's Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show in Milan, the fashion brand on June 22 unveiled their 'Toe Ring Sandals', similar to the iconic Kolhapuri chappal. The luxury brand's failure to acknowledge the Indian roots of the design has sparked criticism on social media. Now, Bollywood celebs have joined the debate. The latest in the series to take a dig at the popular brand is veteran actress Neena Gupta, who shared her personal experience with traditional Kolhapuri chappals. In her video posted on Instagram, Neena is seen flaunting a handmade pair of Kolhapuri chappals gifted to her by the late actor Laxmikant Berde. She expressed her love for the slippers, saying, 'So, these Kolhapur slippers are in great demand these days. Once I did something with Laxmikant Berde—I don't remember what it was—so I asked him, Can you get me these slippers from Kolhapur? He said yes. So he got them for me." 'This is the most beautiful slippers I have ever had. Most beautiful and handmade. I love them. Thank you Laxmikant. You are not there anymore, but love you," the 66-year-old added. 'Real toh real hota hai (Real is real)," the Metro In Dino actress wrote in the caption. Take a look at the video here: Her post comes days after Kareena Kapoor called out the brand. Kapoor took a dig at Prada by posting a picture of her own Kolhapuri chappals with the caption 'Sorry not Prada… but my OG Kolhapuri." Earlier this month, a public interest litigation was filed in the Bombay High Court against Prada. The petition seeks a public apology from the brand and compensation for artists who've been making these traditional sandals for centuries. On the professional front, Neena Gupta has recently been seen in Metro… In Dino. Released on July 4, the musical romantic drama is a spiritual sequel to Anurag Basu's 2007 film Life in a… Metro. First Published:
India.com
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Kareena Kapoor Calls Out Prada For Copying Kolhapuri Chappals, Drops Cheeky Remark
Mumbai: Actress Kareena Kapoor, on Sunday, took to social media to call out luxury fashion brand Prada for allegedly copying traditional Kolhapuri chappal designs. The actress shared a photo of her wearing her OG Kolhapuri chappal as she subtly took a dig at the brand. Taking to her Instagram stories, Bebo posted an image of her flaunting her Kolhapuri chappals and captioned it, 'Sorry not Prada…but my OG Kolhapuri.' Kareena kept her face out of the frame, letting her stylish Kolhapuri chappals do all the talking. Kareena Kapoor's post comes just days after Prada stirred up controversy for showcasing footwear that closely resembled traditional Kolhapuri chappals without crediting their Indian origins. For the unversed, Prada recently introduced a pair of footwear called 'Toe Ring Sandals,' which closely resemble India's traditional Kolhapuri chappals. These sandals were showcased at the Prada Men's Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show in Milan on June 22. However, the design was presented under the European brand's label without any clear credit to its Indian roots. In response, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court, demanding compensation for Kolhapuri chappal artisans, whose work the plea claims has been copied without acknowledgment. The plea also stated that Prada used the traditional design in their latest collection. While the brand had earlier said the sandals were 'inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear with a centuries-old heritage,' the controversy has sparked debate over credit and cultural appropriation. Amid criticism for the striking similarity between their sandals and traditional Kolhapuri chappals—and the steep price tag of nearly Rs. 1 lakh—Prada responded with a statement recognizing the footwear's Indian roots. In a statement, Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said, 'We acknowledge that the sandals featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognize the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship.'
Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PIL seeks public apology from Prada
MUMBAI: The controversy over Italian luxury fashion house Prada showcasing footwear 'inspired' by Kolhapuri Chappals at the recent Milan Fashion Week has taken a legal turn. A model presents a creation from Prada Spring-Summer 2026 menswear collection during the Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo (REUTERS) A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court, accusing Prada of cultural appropriation as the 'Toe Ring Sandals/Leather Flat Sandals' it had showcased on June 22 were near-identical to the traditional, handcrafted footwear made by artisans in Kolhapur, in Maharashtra. Among other things, the petition has sought a public apology from Prada, and compensation for the artisans engaged in the craft. The petition, filed by Prof Adv Ganesh S Hingmire, alleges that the product's 'genuine origin, traditional custodianship and Geographical Indication (GI) status were entirely overlooked'. It sought protection and enforcement of the rights of the community associated with the product, along with compensation for the 'unauthorised commercialisation', which has caused 'significant harm' to the community traditionally associated with it. The petition has also urged the court to direct government entities to safeguard the economic interests and intellectual property rights of indigenous artisans, whose traditional crafts have been granted a Gl tag under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The petition contends that the design showcased by Prada did not acknowledge Indian artisans who have been making Kolhapuri Chappals for generations. 'The act of copying and misrepresenting this craft in international markets effectively amounts to depriving local artisans of rightful recognition and credit for their work, who have preserved and practiced this traditional art form for nearly 800 years in India,' the petition states. After the controversy broke, Prada issued a statement acknowledging that the slippers it had showcased had been 'inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage'. 'We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,' the statement said. The PIL, however, alleges that 'cultural appropriation' of this nature amounts to more than aesthetic borrowing – it constitutes intellectual and economic exploitation. 'In the past, there have been multiple instances where international brands have imitated traditional Indian crafts without offering any acknowledgment or apology,' states Hingmire, an intellectual property rights advocate known for his contribution to Geographical Indication in India. It also urged the court to direct Prada to issue a public apology before the court, affirming its genuineness and ensuring that the apology is widely circulated through appropriate media, including but not limited to newspapers, digital platforms and the brand's official communication channels. The petition underlined the need to establish strong and decisive measures to 'address these violations and set an exemplary legal precedent that deters future acts of cultural misappropriation'. It also suggested the implementation of a permanent, comprehensive policy for international recognition of India's GIs, and the provision of legal and financial support for artisans to enforce their rights.
