Prada
Prada
The Prada label has a long history in the fashion industry, dating back to 1913 when Mario Prada started the label in Milan, Italy. In Milan, he sold leather handbags, shoes, trunks and suitcases out of his two boutiques.
Mario created his classic Prada suitcase from Walrus skin which became very popular with his customers from both Europe and America. Because of the emerging popularity of airplane travel, Prada changed his heavy walrus skin suitcase to a lighter, more durable, leather luggage bag.
The Prada reputation grew because of his development of high quality suitcases, other leather goods, and fashionable accessories. This was true, especially in Europe, yet. the company didn’t gain worldwide attention until his granddaughter, Miuccia, took over from her mother in 1978.
Until Miuccia inherited the family company, Prada was known explicitly as a leather goods manufacturer. Miuccia decided to make a change in the company’s agenda and transformed Prada into a high end clothing label, while keeping the Prada tradition of selling high quality leather suitcases and travel accessories.
While keeping the Prada legacy in tact, Miuccia made innovative changes that made Prada a highly competitive designer and manufacturer of clothing and other fashionable accessories.
Under Miuccia’s direction, Prada hit the market with an easy to carry, high quality backpack, that was made from a waterproof fabric known as Pocone. Miuccia also expanded the Prada line into make a very popular tote bag.
By the late 1980’s, Prada had found it’s niche in the fashion industry. The Prada label gained worldwide fame when Miuccia launched Prada’s first ready-to-wear clothing line, along with it’s first shoe line for women. The shoes, as well as the clothes were made from high quality fabrics and materials, and the designs were elegant and stylish.
By the early 1990s, under the guidance of Miuccia, Prada had become one of the premier clothing manufacturers in the fashion industry, making Prada a worldwide recognizable name.
In 1992, Prada launched a new line of clothing called the Miu Miu Collection, named after Miuccia, herself, which reached out to a younger audience while keeping a chic and elegant feel. The Prada Sport collection came next and received very good reviews.
With her growing popularity in the world of fashion design, in 1993, Miuccia was honored with the Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award for accessories. Then in 1995, she won the Designer of the Year Award.
In 1998, Prada began opening boutiques for men across the United States, first in Los Angeles, then in Las Vegas and Manhattan. Los Angeles was also chosen for Prada’s first Miu Miu boutique.
Although the popularity of Prada fashions were on the rise, by acquiring other unprofitable fashion houses, in 2001, Prada found itself going through some financially troubling times and was forced to sell off some of it’s acquisitions. Findi, Jil Sander, Church Shoes, and Helmut Lang were sold to shore up Prada’s financial health.
In 2006, with the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," Prada became an instant success again. The movie, starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, catapulted Prada into the mainstream of American consciousness making Prada a household name.
Today, Prada sells designer handbags, shoes, coats, and dresses, suits, evening gowns, sun glasses, leather wear, jewelry, luggage and back packs, and they can all be found in many high end malls and stores, across the United States and around the world.
Visit the official website here.
