Prada
 | |
| Type | Luxury fashion house[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1913[1][2] |
| Founder | Mario Prada and Martino Prada[2] |
| Products | Leather goods, ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories[2][3] |
| Industry | Fashion[1] |
Prada is an Italian luxury fashion house that began as a leather-goods shop in Milan in 1913. Its first store opened in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The business expanded under Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli from leather goods into footwear, ready-to-wear, nylon products and sportswear.[1][2] In 2020, Raf Simons joined Miuccia Prada as co-creative director of the Prada brand, with equal creative responsibilities.[1]
History
Origins and family business
The business was founded as Fratelli Prada by Mario Prada and his brother Martino. Its first Milan shop sold bags, trunks and travel accessories. In 1919, the Italian Royal House made Prada an official supplier, a distinction associated with the coat of arms and knotted-rope motif later used in the brand's triangular logo.[2]
Mario Prada's daughter Luisa succeeded him and ran the family business for about two decades. Miuccia Prada joined the business during the 1970s after studying political science at the University of Milan and mime at the Piccolo Teatro. She met Patrizio Bertelli around 1978, and the two formed a personal and business partnership. A luxury footwear line followed in 1979.[2][3]
Expansion beyond leather goods
Nylon became one of the label's defining materials. The Vela backpack, identified as Prada's first nylon product, was introduced in 1984 using Pocono, a water-resistant nylon previously associated with military tents. Nylon was later used in clothing, including the autumn-winter 1994 collection.[2]
Prada expanded into women's ready-to-wear in the late 1980s. The collection used dark colors, simple lines and understated styling, contrasting with the more overt glamour associated with much 1980s fashion.[2][3] The brand subsequently added menswear and continued to develop clothing, footwear and accessories.[1][3]
The sportswear line Prada Linea Rossa debuted in 1997 and was relaunched in 2018. It combined sportswear with luxury design and technical materials. In 2020, Prada introduced Re-Nylon re-editions of its 2000 and 2005 bags and used Econyl, a recycled material made from sources including fishing nets and industrial plastic waste.[1][2]
Later developments
Prada's expansion included a network of directly owned stores and experimental "Epicenter" flagship spaces. The first Epicenter opened in New York in 2001, followed by locations in Tokyo in 2003 and Los Angeles in 2004.[1]
In 2020, Raf Simons joined Miuccia Prada in the creative co-direction of Prada, with the two given equal responsibilities. Their first joint collection was presented for the spring-summer 2021 season.[1][2] In 2024, Prada and Axiom Space presented a partnership to produce spacesuits for NASA's Artemis III lunar mission.[1]
Design and products
Prada's late-twentieth-century clothing used dark or neutral palettes, clean lines, minimalism and understated luxury. The label also used unexpected materials, especially nylon, in handbags and clothing.[2][3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "The History of the Prada Group Over the Years". Prada Group. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Giada Graziano (2023-05-11). "The History of Prada". Glam Observer. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 2012-07-20. "Prada - Designer Biography". Fine Clothing. Retrieved 2026-09-24.