Fears of being swamped by fakes infuses fresh round of interest in Kolhapuri Chappal industry
A spurt in the supply of fake Kolhapuri chappals is nowworrying make of the genuine article. Kolhapur famous for its quality Kohapurichappals has nearly 10 thousand families who are involved in the making of thesechappals. However more than 40,000 families are involved in the production offake Kolhapuri chappals. The popularity of these fake chappals is attributed tothe low cost in its manufacture and the easy availability of rawmaterials.
The genuine chappal makers fears this may result in the citylosing its identity as a centre for quality chappals. Fake chappal enter Kolhapur city from Miraj,Athani, Belgaum, Madbhavi, Chikodi and Nippani villages. The fake chappal ismade using waste material while the real Kolhapuri chappals uses the skin ofanimals. Vendors push these fake articles because they earn more commission byselling the fake chappals.
Bhupal Shetye, in the business of producing Kolhpuri chappaland other items made of animal skin feels the brand of the kolhapuri chappal islosing its identity. Shetye said. “We have asked the central government topatent the Kolhpuri chappal brand under geographical indication” Shetye feels thiswill put an end to the business of fake chappals.
Vijay Shinde another chappal maker said that he proposed a trainingcenter in Kolhapur and the development of a continuous supply of raw materialfor the chappal within the Kolhapur district. “We can only halt this businessif it gets a patent” Shinde said.
Shinde said “We get raw material from Kolkata, Madra andChennai, but for a few months now the availability of raw material has been insufficientresulting in these fake chappals filling in this gap. Under an integratedleather industry development scheme the union government has approved a clusterproject. The execution of this project is expected to reduce the demand of fakechappals in the market.
