Prada's Kolhapuri sandals to Louis Vuitton's ‘Auto Bag’: 5 most controversial releases of 2025

Luxury brands like LV and Prada have been quite notorious this year. Still some of the most prominent names in the fashion business, these luxury labels were founded over a century ago and are known for their iconic, futuristic designs. But this year, the brands did not even attempt to push their boundaries and disappointed their audience by releasing dull and bizarre products with expensive price tags, leading to massive online backlash. Let’s sum up the five most controversial releases this year, which cannot be counted as luxury but are definitely utter madness.

Prada released their own version of traditional Indian Kolhapuri chappals and added a hefty price tag of $930, i.e., around Rs 1 Lakh. This instantly met with criticism from Indian consumers who pointed out that this is an authentic, handcrafted sandal made by the local artisans in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and costs around Rs 400. The brand was questioned on cultural appropriation, where no inspiration credit was given, and an exorbitant markup was also added.
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Will you ever prefer to spend $775, i.e., Rs 69,000, on a small safety pin with crochet detailing? Well, Prada thinks one can. In November 2025, the brand released a crochet safety pin brooch, which was widely mocked online. This small piece can easily be created at home, whereas the brand is asking such a hefty amount, which is equivalent to a brand-new iPhone. The brand reportedly pulled the item from its websites after the internet went crazy looking at the value.
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The Prada men’s tote bag featured metallic, industrial-style hot-stamped leather detailing, which came with a dust bag and a dedicated water bottle compartment. As the brand was aiming for a minimalist and sophisticated design, Indians could not ignore the resemblance to the Indian Railways floor, which instantly went viral online. This bag came with a hefty price tag of Rs 2.73 lakh and stirred controversy right after the Kolhapuri scandal.
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Louis Vuitton unveiled its ‘auto bag’ during the runway of the Summer '26 menswear collection, which featured a mini auto-shaped bag that took the internet by storm. This show was a tribute to the Indian culture, which did not sit well because of the exorbitant price. It came with a price tag of $39,000, i.e., Rs 35 lakh. Although the sculpted creation looked cute, it blurred the lines between luxury fashion and street culture, where the hefty price tag did not feel justified.
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Coperni released a ‘half-legged’ jeans, which instantly received rave reviews online and featured one-legged denim trousers with a bizarre design. One leg of the jeans featured a shorts-length design, whereas the other was a single bootcut leg, which sparked major debate at the start of 2025. Its unconventional design with boundary-pushing style was being sold at $440, i.e., Rs 39,717.

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