Kolhapuris Walked The Prada Runway, But Got Zero Credit. Let’s Talk Cultural Appropriation

None of this is new to us. What’s new is the way it’s being renamed, resold, and rebranded, while the actual communities and artisans behind it are left out of the picture entirely.

No one’s saying inspiration is a crime. But if fashion wants to borrow, it also needs to acknowledge. Because when the world starts calling Kolhapuris “toe ring sandals,” lehengas “bridal skirts,” and dupattas “Nordic accessories,” we lose more than credit, we lose cultural clarity.