The Maharashtra government has announced steps to protect and promote traditional crafts and manufacturing skills of the state, following reports that Italian luxury brand Prada showcased footwear resembling the Kolhapuri chappal in its Spring-Summer 2026 menswear collection.
The move aims to strengthen branding and secure copyright protection for local artisans and their products.
“We have secured more than 40 plus GI tags for Maharashtra specific products including the Kolhapuri chappal. That is why it has become an issue for Prada now and they are in a legal soup. Some very positive news will come for kolhapuri chappal makers in the coming few days due to this GI tags that we have obtained. We are now in the process of getting 30 more GI tags in the coming few months,” Maharashtra Development Commissioner Deependra Singh Kushwah said during an industry-oriented conclave in Mumbai organised by Loksatta at the World Trade Center.
Kolhapuri chappals have the geographical indication (GI) tag that certifies how a product originates from a specific geographical area and possesses qualities or a reputation because of that origin. A GI tag helps preserve traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and the livelihoods of its local practitioners.
Kushwaha said that Maharashtra was also committed to facilitate the building of brands manufactured in India that command global respect and value.
He said that the state government has proposed a One District One Product (ODOP) scheme where 72 unique products, two from each district that reflect the state’s rich cultural and economic diversity, will be nurtured. The scheme is aimed at enhancing value chains, boost market access, and empower local producers.
The programme includes capacity building by training producers to understand market dynamics, consumer demands, and business development strategies and also collaborate with institutions like the National Institute of Design to improve product aesthetics, packaging, and marketability.
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It includes setting up district-level quality testing laboratories, to ensure product quality and consumer trust and authenticate the value chain.
Kushwah said that Maharashtra is also the only state where all districts are engaged in export activity with five key districts contributing 75 per cent of the state’s total exports, and the next five accounting for an additional 20 per cent.
The remaining 26 districts contribute to 5 per cent of the total exports.
He said that the states aim was to increase the total value of exports from all the districts for which the Maharashtra government is currently supporting 30 export-oriented industrial parks, and over the next 4–5 years, these parks will receive targeted grants and policy support.
