Sephora to Open Stores at 850 Kohl's Locations by 2023

Sephora will open its shops at about 850 Kohl’s Corp stores by 2023. (Reuters)
Sephora will open its shops at about 850 Kohl’s Corp stores by 2023. (Reuters)
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Sephora to Open Stores at 850 Kohl's Locations by 2023

Sephora will open its shops at about 850 Kohl’s Corp stores by 2023. (Reuters)
Sephora will open its shops at about 850 Kohl’s Corp stores by 2023. (Reuters)

French cosmetics retailer Sephora will open its shops at about 850 Kohl’s Corp stores by 2023, as the US department store operator doubles down on its beauty category.

Shares of Kohl’s were trading up 14% in early trading.

Beauty products have been among the most sought-after items during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside athleisure apparel and home improvement items, as people largely staying at home spend more on premium skincare items.

The first 200 Sephora stores at Kohl’s locations would open in fall 2021 with Sephora becoming the exclusive beauty partner on the US chain’s website, the companies said.

Sephora is owned by Louis Vuitton owner LVMH and has 500 stores in the Americas.

Last month, Ulta Beauty Inc said it had signed a long-term deal to have its stores next to Target Corp’s own beauty section.

Kohl’s last month had said it had its sight set on at least tripling its sales of beauty products, after seeing growth of nearly 40% over the past five years.

Kohl’s has also collaborated with Amazon.com Inc, WW International Inc and Planet Fitness Inc, offering services from the companies in its stores in a bid to boost store traffic.

J.C. Penney Co Inc, Sephora’s longtime partner, said its partnership with the beauty brand will continue until the end of its current agreement, which the Wall Street Journal has said is scheduled to wind down in 2023.



Sandal Scandal: Prada Credits New Design's Indian Legacy

Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
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Sandal Scandal: Prada Credits New Design's Indian Legacy

Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Luxury fashion powerhouse Prada has acknowledged the ancient Indian roots of its new sandal design after the debut of the open-toe footwear sparked a furor among Indian artisans and politicians thousands of miles from the catwalk in Italy.

Images from Prada's fashion show in Milan last weekend showed models wearing leather sandals with a braided design that resembled handmade Kolhapuri slippers with designs dating back to the 12th century.

A wave of criticism in the media and from lawmakers followed over the Italian brand's lack of public acknowledgement of the Indian sandal design, which is named after a city in the western state of Maharashtra.

Lorenzo Bertelli, son of Prada's owners, responded to the sandal scandal in a letter to a trade group on Friday recognizing their Indian heritage.

"We acknowledge that the sandals... are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage," Bertelli, Prada's head of corporate social responsibility, wrote in the letter to the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, seen by Reuters.

The sandals are at an early stage of design and it is not certain they will be commercialized, but Prada is open to a "dialogue for meaningful exchange with local Indian artisans" and will arrange follow-up meetings, he wrote.

A Prada spokesperson issued a statement acknowledging the sandal's inspiration from India, adding the company has "always celebrated craftsmanship, heritage and design traditions".

Prada products are beyond the reach of most Indians. Its men's leather sandals retail for $844 and up, while the Kolhapuri slippers, sold in Indian shops and street markets, start at about $12.

India's luxury market is small but growing fast, with rising numbers of rich people buying Louis Vuitton bags, Lamborghini cars, luxury homes and watches.

Conversely, Indian culture and crafts are increasingly finding their way into global brand designs. High-end jeweler Bulgari offers a $16,000 Mangalsutra necklace inspired by a chain traditionally worn by married women.

Bertelli's homage to Indian design was sent in a response to a complaint from the head of the trade group that represents 3,000 Kolhapuri sandal artisans, as the online uproar gathered momentum.

"From the dusty lanes of Kolhapur to the glitzy runways of Milan... will the world finally give credit where it's due?" India's DNA News posted on X.

Sambhaji Chhatrapati from the Kolhapur Royal family told Reuters by phone he was upset that craftsmen had not been acknowledged for the "history and heritage of 150 years."

Kolhapur-based businessman Dileep More, however, said images of the Prada sandal were bringing cheer to some artisans as they show their traditional product going global.

"They are happy that someone is recognising their work," he said.