Brand Story
Prada S.p.A. ( PRAH-də, Italian: [ˈpraːda]) is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada. Prada licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear and L’Oréal for fragrances and cosmetics. 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.
Timeline
- 1913
Founded in Milan
Mario Prada opens Fratelli Prada, a leather goods shop on Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
- 1978
Miuccia Prada takes over
Mario's granddaughter, a PhD in political science, takes over the family business.
- 1985
Pocone nylon bag launches
Industrial-fabric nylon bag with metal triangle plate revolutionizes luxury accessories.
- 1993
Miu Miu launches
Miuccia's younger, playful diffusion line debuts — named after her childhood nickname.
- 2020
Raf Simons co-creative director
Belgian designer Raf Simons joins Miuccia as equal co-creative head — unprecedented in luxury.