'Cultural theft': Prada sells desi Kolhapuri-style chappals for over Rs 1 lakh; no credit given to Indian craftsmen

Kolhapuri chappals are a pretty common footwear in India, and come in average price range, but how would you react if you see a company selling almost the same designed Kolhapuri sandals for over Rs 1 lakh?

Yes, Prada has come up with a "new" set of footwear collections which instantly reminds one of the Kolhapuri chappals that Indians have been using for ages. While Prada did not give any credit to India for the design of the footwear, what also shocked the netizens is the price of the sandals.

According to NDTV, the footwear is priced at Rs 1.2 lakh. The Italian luxury brand shared pictures of the Kolhapuri flats on social media, and many seem to be amazed by Prada's act of "copying" the Indian style of footwear without any credit. Many of the netizens even mocked the brand calling them "chappal chor".

Meanwhile, Prada's brand CEO Gianfranco D'Attis will leave the Italian luxury firm at the end of the month by "mutual agreement", Prada said on Sunday.

Prada Group's CEO Andrea Guerra will take on the role of brand CEO on an interim basis.

Luxury fashion has seen several changes in senior leadership and creative directors.

Luxury goods giant Kering, which owns Gucci, last week named Renault boss Luca de Meo as its new CEO, replacing Francois-Henri Pinault, who has led the heavily indebted family firm since 2005.

Top luxury houses are also betting on a new design direction to help rekindle interest from shoppers, who have pulled back on fashion as prices rise.

(With Reuters inputs)