GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappals

Italian luxury fashion brand Prada recently acknowledged that its sandals, featured in the Men’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, were inspired by ‘traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage.’ This comes after the brand faced criticism for initially failing to acknowledge the striking resemblance to India’s GI-tagged Kolhapuri chappals.

Kolhapuri Chappals and GI Status

• GI Status: Kolhapuri chappals were granted Geographical Indication (GI) status on December 11, 2018.
• Coverage: This GI tag covers eight districts – four each in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Understanding Geographical Indications (GI)

• Definition: A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation attributable to that origin.
• Function: For a sign to function as a GI, it must identify a product as originating from a given place.
• Legal Protection: In India, a GI confers legal protection to such products.
• Enforcement: A GI right allows those who hold the right to prevent third parties from using the indication if their product does not conform to the established standards.
  • For example, producers of Darjeeling tea, where the GI is protected, can prevent the use of “Darjeeling” for tea not grown in their gardens or not produced according to their standards.
• Limitations: However, a protected GI does not prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication, as long as they don’t use the protected name.
• Issuing Authority in India: The Indian government issues the GI tag.
• Registry Location: The Geographical Indications Registry is located in Chennai.
• International Recognition: While the GI tag provides legal protection within India, it is not automatically sufficient for protection in the international market; separate protections are often needed abroad.