, highlighted that GI tag recognition isn’t enough and cultural entrepreneurship is needed. Kharge on Sunday also pointed out that while the chappals are commonly associated with Maharashtra, a large share of the artisans who craft them hail from Karnataka, sharing the tag.The minister said that with the sandals being priced at Rs 1.2 lakh, very few people know where they truly come from. Artisans from Athani, Nippani, Chikkodi, Raibag, and other parts of Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Dharwad in Karnataka have been making these chappals for generations.
They have traditionally sold them in nearby towns, especially Kolhapur, which eventually became the default market, and over time, the brand, he said. “We saw how Maharashtra was pushing for sole GI tag rights over Kolhapuris and through LIDKAR (Karnataka government’s subsidiary), we contested this and fought to ensure the state’s artisans were not left out,’ Kharge wrote X. The GI tag was granted jointly to four districts each in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
“This was never about a contest between the two states but about preserving our shared heritage and giving our artisans the legal recognition they deserve,” the rural development minister said. Kharge called for greater investment in design, branding, skilling, and market access for the artisan communities.
“When international fashion houses adopt our designs, it is our artisans whose names, work, and legacy must be showcased — not sidelined,” he added. While Prada has since acknowledged the Indian roots of the design and signalled openness to artisan collaboration, Kharge emphasised that the artisans don’t just deserve credit, they deserve better prices, wider exposure, and the chance to build lasting, dignified livelihoods from their craft.
