Bombay High Court Today (July 16) dismissed a PIL accusing luxury brand Prada of copying Maharashtra’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals. The petition claimed cultural misappropriation and sought apology and compensation for Indian artisans.
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MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that had demanded action against the global fashion brand Prada for allegedly copying the traditional Kolhapuri chappal design without permission.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne made the decision after listening to both sides, including the lawyers representing the petitioners and Prada.
“The Petition is dismissed, reasons to follow,”
-the Court stated.
The PIL was filed by five practicing advocates, who accused Prada of copying the Kolhapuri chappal style in its Spring/Summer 2026 Men’s Collection, which was showcased during a fashion show in Milan on June 22.
The footwear displayed by Prada was described as ‘toe ring sandals’, and was allegedly priced at over Rs 1 lakh per pair. The sandals were said to closely resemble the traditional Kolhapuri chappals made by artisans in Maharashtra.
The petitioners claimed that Prada’s act was cultural misappropriation and that it violated the rights of traditional artisans who have been making Kolhapuri chappals for centuries.
“This action of PRADA infringes the fundamental right to life (Article 21), which includes the right to livelihood and cultural identity of the Kolhapuri Chappal artisan communities,”
-the plea stated.
The advocates requested that Prada be legally restrained from selling or using the chappal design, which is protected under Geographical Indication (GI) Tag laws. They also asked the Court to direct Prada to issue a public apology.
According to the petition, Prada’s designers had not acknowledged the Indian origin of the footwear and had failed to give credit to the Indian artisans. They argued that Prada’s branding on the chappals disrespected the hard work and identity of the original creators.
The Kolhapuri chappal holds GI tag under Application No. 169 in Class 25 (Footwear). It was officially granted this status on May 4, 2009, and was later renewed in 2019, remaining valid till 2029.
The plea described the Kolhapuri chappal as-
“Handcrafted footwear, produced using traditional methods passed down over generations in the region of Maharashtra.”
The petitioners also referred to Section 22 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, claiming that:
“Prada’s actions undermine the moral and economic rights of the artisans, erodes the cultural identity embedded in the craft and contravenes the objectives of Section 22.”
As per the PIL, making one pair of Kolhapuri chappals requires specialized human skills and takes about four to five weeks to complete. The footwear is a result of generations of knowledge and craftsmanship, with some records claiming the tradition is nearly 800 years old.
The plea emphasized that Prada’s design also violated Article 29(1) of the Indian Constitution, which protects the right of citizens with a distinct culture to preserve and conserve their heritage.
Besides asking for a ban on Prada’s use of the design, the petitioners also sought financial compensation for loss of reputation and income faced by the artisan communities.
Despite these arguments, the Bombay High Court decided to dismiss the petition. The Court did not provide the reasons immediately but assured that a detailed judgment would follow.
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