Kolhapuri chappal row: Bombay high court dismisses PIL accusing Prada of infringement; questions petitioners’ right to sue | Mumbai News
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday has dismissed a PIL seeking action against Italian luxury fashion label Prada for showcasing open-toe leather sandals at the recent Milan Fashion Week that are allegedly ‘deceptively similar’ to the traditional Kolhapuri chappal.In its Spring/Summer collection, Prada unveiled ‘toe-ring sandals’ that, according to a public interest litigation (PIL), closely resemble the traditional Kolhapuri chappal. The luxury footwear is priced at Rs 1 lakh per pair. The PIL, filed by six lawyers from Pune, describes the Kolhapuri chappal as a cultural symbol of Maharashtra. The petition names the Prada Group as well as several Maharashtra government bodies as respondents. It seeks a directive to restrain Prada from using or selling the sandals without proper authorisation and also demands a public apology and acknowledgment from the brand for drawing inspiration from the traditional design.
