The Kolhapuri chappals inspired a new Prada design. The luxury brand only acknowledged this fact after critics accused it of replicating the iconic sandals without recognizing the footwear’s cultural roots.
Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://www.dw.com/en/india-accuses-prada-of-cultural-appropriation-over-sandals/a-73106939
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The whole cultural appropriation debate is is simply stupid. It’s sandals, everybody uses them. Same with hairstyles or clothing.
Apparently this is a design unique to India and people are mad about the design and not the concept of sandal, so i’d give them a pass. It’s very easy for Prada in the beginning to say they’re inspired by the design, yet they didn’t.