Prada - Miuccia Prada and her unique designs
Prada is one of the most important companies in the fashion industry. Despite having existed since 1913, the company only became really famous in 1985. Miuccia Prada revolutionized the company with her visions and designs.
Fratelli Prada was founded in 1913 by the brothers Mario and Martino Prada . They opened their first shop in the same year in the " Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II " in Milan. The brothers initially concentrated on the production and sale of exclusive leather goods such as gloves , bags and suitcases . In 1919, Prada was appointed a royal purveyor. This is still reflected in the logo today. The coat of arms of the House of Savoy and the four figure-of-eight knots, also known as the Savoy knot, are an integral part of the logo.
Mario Prada died in 1958 and in the same year his daughter Luisa Prada took over the company. In 1978 she left Prada to her three children and retired from the company. Her children Miuccia, Marina and Alberto Prada opened a second store in Milan in 1983 .
Her focus remained on the production of handbags and accessories. In 1978, Miuccia Prada met her future husband Patrizio Bertelli at a fashion fair in Milan. The Italian businessman owned a leather goods company in Arezzo. Patrizio Bertelli encouraged her to launch a clothing line. In 1988, Miuccia Prada designed the first women's collection . This was launched in autumn /winter 1989 .
In 1985, Miuccia Prada gained great respect in the fashion world through her creative use of fabrics and the simple , modern lines in her collections . She was the first to present bags and backpacks made of shiny black parachute nylon , the so-called " Pocone " . The Pocone is now known as " Re-Nylon ". The " Vela " backpack quickly became a best-seller. She caused a sensation in the fashion world with the unconventional material .
By taking over Miuccia Prada, Prada developed into a world-leading fashion company. She redefined concepts such as luxury, sophistication and desirability. Her husband Patrizio Bertelli contributed to this success. In 1991, Prada expanded to China, Japan and the USA. Two years later, the company launched its first men's collection. In 1993, Miuccia Prada created " Miu Miu ". Miu Miu is a subsidiary of Prada and was intended to appeal to the younger generation. Miu Miu is Miuccia Prada's nickname.
In 1995, Miuccia Prada caused a stir again and broke all the rules. With the " Prada Ugly " collection, she once again distanced herself from the mainstream of the fashion world. The collection was aimed at young, fashionable women. The bright colors, thick glasses, old-fashioned fabrics and retro-style cuts set her apart from the competition. In the following years, Miuccia Prada created her own empire. She made the fashion world roll its eyes.
In the early 2000s, Prada launched its first sunglasses collection and its first perfume. Prada's product range has grown in recent years. Today, almost every fashion wish is fulfilled by Miuccia Prada. She makes fashion hearts beat faster. In her "Resort Collection" shown at the beginning of 2019, she wants the opposite. Miuccia wants more simplicity for Prada. She wants to go back to the basics . The collection was light and authentic. Miuccia Prada stands for clear, minimalist lines. For classic elegance in strong colors. In recent years, Karl Lagerfeld , Stella McCartney and Tom Ford, among others, have worked as designers for Prada. Today, Miuccia Prada is chief designer and chairwoman of the "Board of Directors", Prada's management and supervisory body, and is the third generation to run the company. Her husband Patrizio Bertelli is the group's CEO. Prada also owns other brands such as Church's , The Original Car Shoe and Miu Miu . Prada is now one of the top brands in the luxury segment. The fashion house continues to generate most of its revenue from the sale of bags.
