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Evil Wears Prada: Luxury Brand's Cultural Theft Masks a Looming Craft Crisis in India

Prada Cultural Theft
What’s at stake The Kolhapuri isn’t a relic. It’s a reminder that craft matters. That dignity of labour matters. That slow fashion, when done right, isn’t just ethical—it’s essential. What’s at stake isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a living craft, a rural economy, a cultural footprint. Prada
Publication:
Dated Published:
  • 1 July 2025
Last Modified:
  • 1 July 2025

The Kolhapuri chappal—a timeless symbol of Indian craftsmanship—is in the news and for all the wrong reasons. But behind the buzz lies a story of decline: collapsing artisan networks, synthetic clones, policy failure, and raw material bottlenecks. As younger generations abandon the trade and fake lookalikes flood the market, this once-thriving rural industry is fast unravelling.

Read the original story on texfash.