Kareena Kapoor Flaunts OG Kolhapuris, Takes Dig at Prada Amid Design Row
Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has joined the ongoing controversy surrounding luxury fashion house Prada, which has come under fire for allegedly copying the traditional Kolhapuri chappal design. In a subtle yet sharp dig, Kareena took to Instagram to flaunt her original Kolhapuri sandals, captioning her post, “Sorry not Prada but my OG Kolhapuri,” sending a clear message in support of indigenous craftsmanship.
Kareena’s post has since gone viral, with social media users applauding her for promoting Indian heritage and standing up for local artisans. The actor, currently working on Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, showcased the handcrafted footwear proudly, adding her star power to the growing conversation around cultural appropriation and intellectual property rights.
The controversy began when Prada recently launched a pair of leather sandals that bore an uncanny resemblance to Kolhapuri chappals—a traditional Indian footwear design that holds cultural and historical significance. What irked many was that the brand marketed the sandals without any mention or acknowledgment of the Kolhapuri origin, instead labeling them simply as “leather sandals.”
This led to widespread backlash online, with users accusing the luxury label of appropriating Indian culture for profit while ignoring the artisans who have kept the centuries-old craft alive. The Kolhapuri chappal, primarily made in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, is a GI (Geographical Indication)-tagged product, legally protecting it as a unique regional craft.
In response, a group of intellectual property rights advocates from Mumbai and Pune filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court. Led by Advocate Ganesh S Hingmire, the PIL seeks compensation for the Kolhapuri artisan community and a public apology from Prada and its Indian subsidiary, Prada India Fashion Private Limited.
The plea asserts that Prada’s actions amount to unauthorised commercialisation of a GI-tagged product, causing both reputational and financial harm to traditional artisans. It demands a legal injunction against the brand for future misuse, recognition of the artisan community’s rights, and monetary compensation for damages.
The PIL also seeks a broader commitment from international brands to respect and acknowledge India’s traditional crafts, especially when those crafts are legally protected under the GI Act.
With celebrities like Kareena Kapoor stepping in to spotlight the issue, the conversation around intellectual property, ethical fashion, and artisan rights in India has taken center stage. Whether or not the courts intervene, the message from the public is clear: heritage isn’t just fashionable—it’s worth protecting.
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