Surrounding Prada’s 2025 Milan Fashion Show where models took to the ramp in footwear resembling Kolhapuri sandals, Kalapuri, a collective of artisans, responded by creating The Kolhapuri.
It was sent as an invitation to Prada’s designers to visit their city, and served as a thoughtful gesture, offering a deeper insight into the legacy its keepers. The book chronicled the thousand-year-old journey of the craft, telling its story from the perspective of the real artisans and their families.
Disclaimer: Kalapuri does not claim the credit for the outcome, but the goal of this initiative was to spark conversation and bring designers closer to the Kolhapuri artisans, building awareness for their craft locally, as well as internationally.
