Belagavi activist who took on Prada over Kolhapuri chappal design passes away

G.N. Gopikrishna, a Belagavi-based figure who became the face of a campaign to defend the interests of Kolhapuri chappal artisans, has passed away.

His name came to wider attention after the European fashion house Prada used the design of the traditional Kolhapuri chappal without obtaining prior consent from the craftspeople who make it.

Gopikrishna drew on his influence to arrange a meeting that brought together the Government of Karnataka, representatives of the company and the artisans themselves. The sit-down was aimed at addressing the artisans' concerns over the unauthorised use of a design long associated with their craft.

The episode turned a spotlight on the vulnerability of traditional Indian crafts when global brands borrow their motifs, and on the role local intermediaries can play in pushing for dialogue between the state, the industry and the makers.

He is remembered for the effort to give the artisans a seat at the table in a dispute that extended well beyond Belagavi and the Kolhapur region.