After A Decade Long Wait, Finally The Classic Kohlapurichappal Successfully Granted A GI

The Kolhapuri Chappal, which is a popular ethnic wear, has been finally granted the GI tagafter a decade long wait. The tag was granted by the controller general of patents, designs and trademarks to the Chappal which is manufactured vastly in the districts of Maharashtra (Solapur, Sangli, Satara, & Kolhapur) and Karnataka (Bijapur, Bagalkot, Dharwad & Belgaum) and is now registered under Class 25 as a Handicraft. The GI is granted jointly to the districts of both the states. Although, there was a perception about the footwear that the artisans of Kohapuri Chappal belong exclusively to Maharashtra but many of them belong to Karnataka and are engaged in the skill since centuries. The GI enables the recognition of the ethic footwear at national as well international levels.The news came out only recently when the certificate was issued for the GI.