A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court against Italian fashion brand Prada for allegedly copying the design of Kolhapuri chappals, a traditional Indian footwear, without permission.
The PIL has been filed by six lawyers from Pune. They claimed that Prada’s new toe-ring sandals, shown in its spring/summer collection and priced at around ₹1 lakh per pair, look very similar to Kolhapuri chappals — which are a cultural symbol of Maharashtra.
The petition says that Kolhapuri chappals are already protected under Geographical Indication (GI) laws in India. This means only authorised artisans from certain regions in Maharashtra and Karnataka can use the name and design legally.
The PIL demands the following:
Prada should stop using and selling the sandal design without permission
The company should issue a public apology and acknowledge the original Indian artisans
The artisans’ community should be compensated for the economic and reputational damage caused
A permanent injunction should be passed against Prada for using the GI-protected design
An inquiry should be launched for violation of GI rights
The PIL also mentioned that Prada had privately admitted being inspired by Indian artisans but never made any formal apology or gave credit or compensation. The petitioners believe that this private admission was just a way to avoid backlash.
They urged the court and authorities to protect the rights of Indian artisans and ensure they get justice and fair compensation.
Be the first to comment