Prada recently launched a “crochet safety pin brooch” priced at $775 (~₹69,000), and as you’d expect — the internet didn’t hold back.
- The design: a metal safety pin wrapped in colorful crochet thread + a small Prada logo charm.
- According to reports, many are questioning how this everyday utility item turned into a high-fashion status symbol.
What People Are Saying — And Meming
- “My grandma could do that for ₹10.”
- This is maybe the most common reaction. Many netizens said that their grandmas can replicate the pin with yarn and ordinary thread — for a fraction of the price.
- One commenter: “For ₹69,000, it better hold my life together, not just my dupatta.”
- Crocheters are furious.
- According to The Telegraph India, crochet enthusiasts (especially from India) are calling it “andhadhun lootmaar” — roughly, “reckless robbery.”
- One crocheter told PTI: “Anybody with a beginner-level understanding of crochet can make this.”
- Peak capitalism, or a branding masterclass?
- Some see Prada’s move as a bold play in luxury minimalism: turning something so banal into something aspirational.
- Others call it over-the-top: what justifies the price if it’s “just a safety pin”?
- Reddit roasts:
- “They charge for the brand name, not the crochet itself.”
- “I swear this is the same stuff we used to make friendship bracelets while gossiping about NSYNC.”
Why This Is Such a Big Deal
- Cultural tension: In many Indian homes, simple safety pins are found in sewing kits, bangles, dupattas — and are practically a staple. That’s why seeing one of “those pins” priced like a luxury bag hits differently for many.
- Luxury irony: Prada is leaning into this weird, absurd aesthetic — but the backlash suggests people are done being polite.
- Talk about value: It’s forcing a deeper debate: is the “brand” worth more than the functional value of an item?
The Meme Economy Has Arrived
- People are posting their own versions: desi style embroidered or crocheted safety pins, jokingly priced “discount Prada.”
- Social media roasts include:
- “Prada better sign a contract with my grandma — she’ll make these for ₹10.”
- “I could get a designer bag for this price. Why am I pinning yarn to my jacket?” (Reddit, of course.)
So — Is Prada Winning or Losing?
| Viewpoint | Take |
|---|---|
| Prada / Luxury Fans | It’s art. A statement. A conversation piece. |
| Critics / Everyday People | It’s ridiculous. A sign of luxury excess. |
| Crafter Community | It’s lazy: easy to make, overpriced, and has “branding markup.” |
Whether you’re laughing, outraged, or just bewildered — Prada’s ₹69,000 safety pin brooch has done exactly what it was designed to do: spark talk, make headlines, and disrupt how we think about “luxury.”
It’s a reminder that in fashion, sometimes the smallest things make the biggest waves.
