Kolhapuri chappal row: Bombay HC dismisses PIL against Prada; questions petitioners’ right to sue-OxBig News Network

Hands at work: Artisans set out leather pieces of various sizes to make the chappals.

First step: Pieces of vegetable-tanned leather is laid out to dry under the sun on a terrace on Kolhapur.

Bootstrapping tradition: Leather ‘ears’ used to attach the T-strap are left to dry at a workshop.

Crafting each step: Tools used to make Kolhapuri chappals are kept in precise order for the convenience of the artisans.

Shaping the sole: Absorbed in his work, a craftsman cuts the right shape for a chappal.

On the anvil: The Kolhapuri chappals are handcrafted in modest workshops.

A stitch in time: At her home workshop, an artisan stitches the sole of the chappal.

Finishing touches: Inside Kolhapur’s Chappal market, an artisan polishes a pair of Kolhapuris, giving the handmade leather its sheen.

Royal replicas: Shubam Satpute, owner of Igna Leathers, showcases a pair of royal Kolhapuris, replicas of the footwear once worn by King Shahu Maharaj, who is considered a visionary ruler.

Timeless display: Kolhapuri chappals on display at Rashtriya Leather Works, one of the oldest shops in the market. The cottage industry has received a boost with the global attention after fashion brand Prada praised the craftsmanship behind the traditional footwear.