A pair of high-end designer shoes from Gucci has landed the luxury label in legal hot water, after a Mumbai-based lawyer claimed the ₹75,500 footwear not only betrayed his feet but also his dignity.
The case, now before the South Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, accuses Gucci of selling defective goods and violating consumer trust. Notices have been issued to Gucci’s Italian parent company as well as its outlets at the Trident Hotel and Jio World Plaza.
The complainant, Advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, alleged that within just an hour of strutting out in the pricey pair on March 6, 2024, he found himself stumbling—literally. The shoes, he says, were mismatched in elevation, causing imbalance, discomfort, and a humiliating fall in public view.
Rather than being met with apologies and swift action, Deshmukh says he was rerouted between store locations and greeted with what he described as dismissive and unhelpful treatment at the Bandra Kurla Complex outlet.
Gucci, for its part, didn’t entirely deny the defect. A written acknowledgment dated March 7 confirmed a slight difference in the shoes’ elevation following an internal check.
Forced to shell out an additional ₹9,500 for a replacement, Deshmukh claims the financial hit paled in comparison to the emotional toll. The experience, he said, left him physically hurt, mentally anguished, and deeply embarrassed—especially given the stature of the brand involved.
Deshmukh is now seeking a whopping ₹1.14 crore in damages, including compensation for mental distress, public humiliation, wasted time, and litigation expenses.
The complaint bluntly accuses Gucci of failing to meet the basic standards of quality and customer care one expects from a global fashion powerhouse.
From red carpet dreams to courtroom drama, this case might just force luxury brands to tread a little more carefully—one sole at a time.
