Prada to Collaborate on ‘Made in India’ Campaign Featuring Kolhapuri Chappals

Mumbai/Milan/Kolhapur: In a significant move for Indian artisan communities, global fashion house Prada has expressed its commitment to collaborate with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MACCIA) on a ‘Made in India’ campaign, inspired by the iconic Kolhapuri chappals.

The announcement followed a virtual meeting chaired by MACCIA President Lalit Gandhi, attended by five senior Prada officials from Milan, including Lorenzo Bertelli (Head of CSR), Christopher Bugg (Global Director of Communications), Roberto Massardi (Chief Business Development Officer), Francesca Secondari, and Valentina Piccato.

MACCIA presented six agenda points focused on cultural recognition, co-branded development, and fair trade. Prada aligned on all key issues and confirmed the dispatch of a technical team to Maharashtra next week to identify transparent and sustainable supply chain partners among local artisans.

One of the key outcomes is Prada’s intent to launch a limited-edition Kolhapuri-inspired “Made in India” capsule collection, ensuring GI-tag compliance and global visibility for Maharashtra’s craft heritage. The team also shared global success stories of similar campaigns from Peru, Japan, and Scotland.

MACCIA further proposed exploring heritage crafts like Paithani weaving, Himroo textiles, regional embroidery, and traditional jewellery. Prada responded positively and agreed to consider them for future collections.

Both sides also discussed establishing knowledge exchange and training programs between Indian and Italian artisans to foster design innovation and sustainability.

“This collaboration could become a global model for respectful partnerships between luxury brands and artisan communities,” said Lalit Gandhi.

The meeting saw participation from key artisan stakeholders, including Sanjay Shete (President, Kolhapur Chamber of Commerce), Shivajirao Pawar (Kolhapur District Footwear Association), Sangeeta Patil, Dhanashri Hardas, Neha Gupta, and others representing the fashion and footwear industries.