How an iconic brand is born: the story of Prada
The quintessential symbol of timeless Italian sartorial quality , Prada is a brand that has made international fashion history.
Let's relive the history of Prada , on a journey through time that begins in the early 1900s in an Italian artisan shop and reaches the highest positions in the fashion industry.
When was the Prada brand born?
1913, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milan Cathedral.
Brothers Mario and Martino Prada open a boutique in central Milan under the name “Fratelli Prada” .
The store immediately began to stand out for its collection of bags, travel trunks, belts and luxury goods made entirely by hand with extremely fine leathers, refined and top-quality materials.
The particular care that distinguishes all the models created by the brothers gradually makes the Prada brand the true status symbol of typically aristocratic Milanese elegance.
1919, the entrée into high society.
Prada's prestige was recognized nationwide after only six years: in 1919 it became the official supplier of leather accessories for the Royal House of Italy.
1958, the generational transition.
The Prada brothers' sons decided not to continue managing the brand.
And so, it was Luisa, Mario Prada's daughter, who took the reins of what would soon become a true fashion house.
The 80s and 90s, the great success.
Even though fashion was not her primary vocation (in favor of the theater), it was Luisa's daughter, Miuccia Prada , who decisively took the reins of the brand.
Prada's future triumph was also written by the fortunate meeting between Miuccia and the entrepreneur Patrizio Bertelli , her future husband.
Miuccia and Patrizio, with a perfect fusion of creative flair and strong expertise in the financial-entrepreneurial field, made the Prada brand one of the most highly rated companies in the fashion system as early as 1999.
The brand expanded by introducing a women's clothing collection in 1988, in the wake of those minimal lines that became a real fashion trend that recurs seasonally ( a trend for the next SS23 ).
Furthermore, in 1993, the new independent brand Miu Miu was launched , at the request of Miuccia Prada herself.
Between 1999 and 2000, Prada achieved such success that it acquired shares in companies such as Gucci, Church's and Jil Sander.
The present day.
“You have to embrace the world if you want to live in it now”
This is precisely the concept underlying the multifaceted character that has evolved and manifested itself in all directions over the years.
If there is one indisputable certainty, it is that the Prada brand has transcended the boundaries of the fashion ecosystem .
Prada and art
Miuccia Prada's creative drive has also found expression in the artistic, architectural and sporting fields , demonstrating her natural propensity towards experimentation and innovation.
Just think of the Prada Foundation , inaugurated in 1993 as an art space in Milan which hosts the works of great international artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Dan Flavin and Laurie Anderson.
The project was brought back into fashion in 2015 thanks to Rem Koolhaas.
The new Fondazione Prada in Milan presents itself as a 17.5 square meter space dedicated to art exhibitions and design and science events by Italian and international artists and professionals.
Prada and sport
Prada made its entry into the world of sport in 1997, when Bertelli, a passionate sailor, sponsored the America's Cup in New Zealand, laying the foundations for the new Prada Sport line.
And it doesn't end there.
The three epicenters
When talking about art and architecture connected to Prada, we cannot fail to mention the famous Three Epicenters project , born from the collaboration with AMO (Office Metropolitan Architecture).
The project aims to give life to three Epicenters , real experimental spaces capable of expressing all the innovative essence of the Prada brand.
Thus were born the three flagships of New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo, each with architectural lines that will host events and exclusive boutiques.
From the New York store’s wave-shaped wooden floor and motorized clothes racks to the glass façade that has become a symbol of Tokyo, Prada’s penchant for experimentation culminated in the early 2000s.
During those years, the brand's first fragrance was launched on the market, with advertising carried out by Hollywood stars such as Ridley Scott.
Today, Miuccia Prada is co-creative director of the brand together with Raf Simons and can boast a wide range of awards and recognitions obtained throughout her career.
Prada: the selection of iconic men and women
The triangular brand that distinguishes Prada's identity recurs in all of the fashion house's most iconic products.
Among the must-haves for women , a space is reserved entirely for bags .
From the iconic tote bags to the pannier bags, made unmistakable by the saffiano leather and the Galleria collection , with its typically Prada cuts.
“What you wear is your way of presenting yourself to the world, especially today when we live in an era where human contact is so rapid. Fashion is an instant language”
As for men, however, we cannot fail to mention men's loafers , the perfect fil rouge for an elegant and refined man.
Prada also stands out for its strong commitment to eco-sustainability , making re-nylon fabric the main material of its men's and women's accessories collections.
The brand has also committed, with a close collaboration in 2019 with FFA (Fur Free Alliance), to suspend the use of real fur, in favor of sustainable practices.
