Prada S.p.A. is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada. Prada licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear[3] and L’Oréal for fragrances and cosmetics.[4]
Founded in 1913 and named for the family of founder Mario Prada, the company originally sold imported English animal goods before transitioning to waterproof nylon fabrics in the 1970s under the leadership of Mario's granddaughter Miuccia Prada and her husband, Patrizio Bertelli. By the 1990s, Prada was perceived as a luxury brand, a designation credited to originality in its designs. To further the business, Miuccia Prada founded Miu Miu as a subsidiary of Prada around this time period. The company additionally partnered with LVMH to acquire a joint stake in Fendi; Prada further assisted LVMH in its failed takeover of Gucci.
The brand struggled through the late 2000s and early to mid 2010s, which included a failed initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, though began a resurgence in popularity entering into the 2020s. Miuccia Prada and Bertelli, both entering old age, began a transition in leadership to their children in the 2020s, bringing in former Luxottica CEO Andrea Guerra to lead the company for the years during the transition. The house presently sees annual revenue in the billions of euros, making €4.2 billion in 2022 with profit that same year totalling to €776 million; furthermore, Prada and less so Miu Miu are seen as having very high desirability among consumers across various reports.[5][6][7]
History
Founding
The company started in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino as Fratelli Prada, a leather goods shop in Milan.[8][9] Initially, the shop sold imported English steamer trunks, handbags, travel accessories,[10] beauty cases, jewellery, and luxury items.[11]
Mario Prada opened an exclusive store in Milan’s prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II that sold leather bags, trunks, beauty cases, jewels, luxury accessories, and rare objects.
Prada did not believe women should have a role in business, so he prevented female family members from entering his company. Ironically, Mario's son had no interest in the business,[12]
Businesses today
Runway shows
Prada hosts seasonal runway shows on the international fashion calendar, taking place in Milan often at one of the brand's spaces.
1988 – first womenswear show in Milan
1998 – first menswear show in Milan[16]
Resort 2019 was shown in New York City at Prada's New York headquarters.[59] The show was broadcast over screens in Times Square.[60]
Previous Prada models include Daria Werbowy, Gemma Ward, Vanessa Axente, Suvi Koponen, Ali Stephens, Vlada Roslyakova and Sasha Pivovarova, who went on to appear in Prada's ad campaigns for six consecutive seasons after opening the Prada fall 2005 runway show. Prada has also featured many actors as models in their menswear shows and campaigns, including
Other activities
Costume design
In 2007, Miuccia Prada contributed costume designs for two digital characters in the CGI film Appleseed Ex Machina.[71]
In 2010, Giuseppe Verdi’s Attila premiered at New York’s Metropolitan Opera with costumes by Miuccia Prada.[72]
In 2013, Miuccia Prada designed costumes for Baz Luhrmann's film The Great Gatsby in collaboration with costume designer Catherine Martin.[73]
Eyewear
Prada in popular culture
Films
The 2006 feature film The Devil Wears Prada (based on the 2003 book of the same name written by Lauren Weisberger) earned Meryl Streep an Oscar nomination for her role. Her shoe wardrobe for the film was said to be "at least 40% Prada" by the costume designer Patricia Field.[95] Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue and the supposed inspiration for Meryl Streep's character, wore Prada to the film's premiere.[96]
Art
In 2005, a false Prada boutique was built as an art installation 26 miles away from Marfa, Texas. Called "Prada Marfa," the purpose of the structure was to eventually disintegrate into its surroundings. Shoes and bags were provided by Miuccia Prada from the Summer Season 2005 collection.[97]
Controversy
2009 discrimination case
Prada Female Discrimination Case was the first women's rights lawsuit and movement of luxury fashion industry that appeared in the global media in 2010. It was named “a David vs. Goliath struggle” by Suki Chung of Labor Action China. The Prada Female Discrimination Case occurred 4 years after the Me Too movement and was started by an American activist, Tarana Burke.[100][101]
In March 2010, former employee Rina Bovrisse sued Prada Japan,[102] accusing the company of sex-based discrimination in the workplace,[103][104]
See also
- Lavender Prada dress of Uma Thurman, a 1995 dress worn to the Academy Awards
External links
- Prada Logo SVG - Unofficial
References
- Analysis Washington Post, 2022-12-08, retrieved 2023-08-09^
- Annual Report 2024 retrieved 25 June 2025^
- Luisa Zargani. Prada and Luxottica Renew Eyewear License