BENGALURU: Reacting to the row involving Italian fashion brand Prada and Kolhapuri chappals, RDPR minister Priyank Kharge said artisans and their legacy must be “showcased” instead of being “sidelined” by international fashion houses. “So, Prada is selling what are essentially Kolhapuri chappals for Rs 1.2 lakh a pair,” he said on X. He said local handicrafts and artisans should be promoted through cultural entrepreneurship. “They don’t just deserve credit, they deserve better prices, wider exposure, and the chance to build lasting, dignified livelihoods from their craft,” Priyank said. He said many artisans who make the iconic chappals are from Karnataka’s Belagavi, Bagalkot and Dharwad, and revealed that he intervened to ensure the GI tag was given jointly to Maharashtra and Karnataka. “This was never about a contest between two states but about preserving our shared heritage,” he said. “The GI tag only gives them legal rights. It’s our responsibility to give them global platforms,” he said.
