On theme with Milan Design Week, today Prada Milano launches a series of projects titled Prada Invites in collaboration with three outstanding female architects. The Italian luxury house has invited Cini Boeri, Elizabeth Diller and Kazuyo Sejima to give their takes on the brand’s signature nylon fabric. For the project they are presented with the task of creating an accessory item for women and each artist produces something of a unique item. Italian architect Cini Boeri has conceptualised a functional bag that can expand and reduce according to its need or occasion; Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima has crafted rather more playful designs with a long version dubbed the ‘daln’ and a curved version called ‘yooo.’ While American architect Elizabeth Diller’s designs — ‘The Yoke’ bag and ‘The Envelope’ garment bag cover a wider range of multiple functions. This new chapter of Prada’s venture is only a small display of their ongoing fascination with multifaceted representations of contemporary femininity. Prada Invites pieces are on sale with several different drops from the end of March until the beginning of May, in select Prada stores across the world.
Yesterday Italian fashion house Prada welcomed guests to their show space in Milan, for the viewing of their Fall Winter 2019 Women’s collection. Being the same set to that of the menswear show last month , this show was a continuation of the Frankenstein storyline established in the previous show, from a slightly different perspective. Last season designer Miuccia Prada’s focus was on the outcasts of society, she crafted a collection mainly inspired by the social Frankensteins of society, which was a dark but interesting stimulus. However this season, she decided to shed light on the more affectionate side of such a love story , being love stories like Frankenstein and his Bride. The collection titled “The Anatomy of Romance,” was an exploration of the gloom of love and romance and their duality. It spoke to that turbulent pull one has towards love even when you know it will end in turmoil. As a violin instrumental of bad romance plays in the background, a model struts the runway in a full black gown with an embroidered yellow rose to the side. This was the mood, this was a woman who was strong, feminine, who falls in love and gets her heart broken every time, yet always gets back up to try again. The collection also featured a military utilitarian nod: army green skirts, massive patch pockets, black trouser suits, along with fun features such as lace veils and skirts, a Frankenstein + Bride printed dress, mohair fur ear and head muffs and also mohair fur backpacks. As much as this collection focused on the dark side of things, it also focused on love’s duality and it’s potential to bloom, with flashes of flower prints and embroideries throughout the story. Last season Ms.Prada had lots of fun with a quirky, interesting collection, however this season, the pieces were more practical and serious and also very Prada.
For their Spring Summer 2019 campaign, Italian fashion house Prada tackles the concept of duality in a video series shot and directed by Will Vanderperre featuring looks from both their women’s and men’s SS19 runway. The series was inspired by classic Hollywood movies and is approached as such.
It features the likes of top models Freja Beha Erichsen, Gigi Hadid, Maine Inga, Liu Wen and Anok Yai re-named after Prada’s supporting cast of accessories: respectively Sybille, Sidone, Margit, Odette and Belle inspired by iconic female cinematic icons. These women are also accompanied by three male characters played by models Daan Duez, Jonas Gloer and Tae Min. The campaign’s direction is a play on an iconic genre of cinematography: everything is familiar, but not too much, all holds a double meaning. Movie star?or model? Menswear? or womenswear? This series is created to guarantee you a few double-takes upon viewing. And like any other movie, it’s accompanied by posters directed by Benoit Debie which hints at the imagery and narrative of the films leaving one curious enough to explore the reflections and refractions of the collection. The campaign boasts seven short films, which will be released throughout January and February on Prada.
This weekend Italian house Prada invited guests for the official presentation of their Fall/Winter 2019 Men’s collection at their signature show space in Milan. Within the area, a spacious arena seating arrangement filled with eager Prada enthusiasts and a black sponge-like floor lit up by 120 oversized light bulbs. In the background played an elegant tune of harps and violins which might have lead one into expecting a collection of tailored traditional pieces. However, what occurred next was quite the contrary. It first began with the change of music, a mix of hard rock beats aptly reset the mood for the collection which emerged.
It was a slight change of tone in creative director Miuccia Prada’s feminist voice. Behind it, was the inspiration from the birth of famous gothic tale Frankenstein, which was created by author Mary Godwin in the 17th century during a competition with her husband in attempt to see who could create the scariest story. Needless to say, Godwin claimed her victory, but released her novel anonymously due to the fact that female novelists were not highly encouraged at the time. This was what drove the designer’s influence this season, her fascination with the grunge-like ‘otherness’ and vulnerability of society’s’ outcasts, wether minorities or monsters. The collection featured symbols from the tale such as shirts and sweaters with lightning bolts circling towards the heart (an upgrade to the Prada hit shirt from last season), menswear suiting with triple belting, studded dresses, backpacks, floral printed dresses, and winter hats filled with wool lining — which was also included as shoulder pads on sweaters. It told an enticing story of twisted romance, femininity and vulnerability while also including military references. Miuccia’s Prada’s agility to switch diversify the tone behind her inspiration is exactly the quality which is destined to keep the brand alive and relevant. See more at Prada.
Italian fashion house Prada once again went digging in the pile of their iconic archives for their latest digital campaign called Prada Linea Rossa.
The distinctive red striped logo was first born in 1997 when Patrizio Bertelli, husband of designer Miuccia Prada was convinced by a German yatch designer to create his own sailing team to compete in the America’s Cup competition, and from this came the Linea Rossa.
Inspired by the world of sport, the logo first began to appear on sunglasses and since then, was gradually seen in collections throughout the years. However, it’s new incarnation debuted at the FW18 show earlier this year. The line offers a range of wardrobe from outwear, to footwear and specially conceived pieces geared to the demands of specific actives including skiing and snowboarding. Prada underscores the origins of the logo’s sportswear foundations with a touch of innovation in colour and form. Garments are clean, precise, entirely streamlined in form and also made with strategic material including nanotech fabrics, recycled polyester and water-repellent microfibre. The garments are all assembled by advanced methods of heat and internal heat-sealing completely devoid of stitching. Prada Linea Rossa hits stores in September in select Prada store and department stores as well as on the brands website.
For their Pre-Fall 2018 campaign, Prada enlisted photographer Willy Vanderperre to capture models inside of the fictitious Prada Warehouse.
The fantasy environment is full of contrasts which embody the modern Prada woman. Models pose against textured, industrial backgrounds that are emblazoned with Prada logos and signs. The colour palette is high-octane, marrying bold, bright hues with futuristic and feminine clothing design. These combinations create an immersive Prada world: rich and unexpected, as the brand is apt to do. Anok Yai, Kris Grikaite and Fran Summers are the perfect models to anchor fantasy of the Prada Warehouse to reality.
Motifs such as the flaming shoes, Prada triangle and dinosaur evoke Prada’s traditional visual language while simultaneously offering a new one. It’s the sense of transition embodied within these logos that plays a part in the continued energy of brand. References speak a both to Prada’s long and innovative history, while also offering a modern twist that looks to the future.
Clothes do the same, with nylon and digitised florals ensuring traditional feminine design is re-imagined for the modern woman. While the Prada Warehouse might remain in another dimension, there’s no doubt Prada Pre-Fall will bring ‘Industreality’ to the every day.
Spritz and escape: these floral-laced scents are your passport to summer. Who cares about the weather when you’re carrying orange blossom and lavender notes wherever you go. These spring and summer season scents are all about embracing the fantasy, helping you to shake off the winter blues and reach for the sky.
To mark the start of the festive season, Prada has released two new films directed by the legendary Autumn de Wilde. Divided into two films, ‘The Postman’s Dreams 2’ (a sequel to de Wilde’s first collaboration with Prada in 2015), and ‘The Postman’s gifts’.
Preoccupied with themes such as desire and the pursuit of satisfaction, de Wilde’s sharp, playful hand is at her masterful best. While Elijah Wood plays an enigmatic postman, it is the Prada Galleria bag that stars as leading lady throughout. Fantastical and maverick, these are an early Christmas treat.
Prada has been instrumental in helping wooden eyewear break free of its formerly dowdy image. The fashion powerhouse’s new line, Prada Raw, features sought-after smooth curves and top quality, light weight materials, while the grain makes each product unique. The trend reached new heights when Prada stitched leather uppers to its specs for the SS15 catwalk.
Prada continues its innovation with the launch of Prada Raw Avenue this Friday, a virtual catwalk where shoppers can experience Prada’s sunglasses through the eyes of six illustrations. Users can interact with the site in real-time through the different illustrations as they walk the virtual runway.
The artists from around the globe include Carly Kuhn, Megan Hess, Blair Breitenstein (whose illustration features above), Judith van den Hoek, Wong Ping and Vida Vega.
Prada has teamed up with their favourite director Wes Anderson again. This time, instead of directing shorts for their campaigns, Anderson has lent his unique vision to create a bar. Located in Milan, Bar Luce, which features a Life Aquatic-themed pinball machine, a jukebox and retro formica tables, is part of Prada’s new art and culture complex Fondazione Prada and was inspired by two Italian Neorealist films – Miracle in Milan (1951) and Rocco and His Brothers (1960).
“I think it would be an even better place to write a movie,” states Anderson. “I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in.”
Fondazione Prada and the Luce Bar is open now at Largo Isarco 2, 20139 Milano.
Four of Prada’s iconic boutiques have exclusively launched the Spring/Summer 2015 Prada Raw Eyewear Collection. Utilising new materials such as black walnut and Malabar ebony, they have combined these two precious types of wood with their contemporary design to create a unique new range.
The stores, Milan Galleria, Paris Faubourg St Honore, London Old Bond Street and New York 5th Avenue, now feature a customised window display, created by Martino Gamper in collaboration with Prada, to celebrate their unique craftmanship.
Prada introduces new faces Adrienne Juliger, Ine Neefs and Moya Mardy in their eerie Resort 2015 campaign. Shot by Steven Meisel, and with hair and make up from Guido Palau and Pat McGrath, the result is a enigmatic monochrome portrait of the modern Prada woman.
The collection itself focuses on the new shapes; silhouettes made from short jackets, boxy skirts, pleated trousers and belted dresses, all with a slight nod to the 70’s. The fine details, such as decorative stitching over the seams of each garment, shoe and bag are clear to see in the photography as well as the tension building short video.
Clym Evernden is an award winning artist, one that Twin met when he captured the attendees at our latest release party (read the interview). Here, the Central Saint Martins graduate and Colin Barnes Illustration Award winner turns his attention to the menswear SS15 season, illustrating the shows in his signature inky style of drawing.
This May, Harrods Knightsbridge is celebrating all things Prada. Throughout the month you’ll find a pop-up store, multiple screen displays, an elegant Marchesi café, and Pradasphere: an exhibition that explores the brand’s multivalent obsessions — from fashion and accessories to art, architecture, cinema, sport and beyond.
The centrepiece of the exhibition comprises of six displays that combine ensembles from various collections and in addition, expect to find heritage items from the archive such as shoes and bags, examples of luxury fabrics and materials as well as a Prada histrory wall that links together the design collections with all the extracurricular projects, from Fondazione Prada to Luna Rossa. There is also a screening room presenting short films from directors such as Roman Polanski, Wes Anderson, Ridley Scott, and Yang Fudong.
The 130m2 pop-up store, located on the Ground Floor of the infamous shopping destination is designed in the classic Prada style and features women’s leather goods, accessories, jewellery and eyewear.
Blended by perfumer Daniela Andrier, under the creative direction of Miuccia Prada, Candy Florale is the latest fragrance from the Italian Fashion House. The idea for the new scent stems from an imaginary flower, one created for Candy herself. The flower had to be wondrous and sophisticated, simply unique. Its lush blossom contains an uplifting mix of floral notes, embodying the many facets of Candy’s character, while the warmth and honey accents reflect Candy’s sensual essence.
Candy is Léa Seydoux. The beautiful French actor stars in the Prada Candy Florale’s advertising campaign, where we find her in both film and print visuals created for Prada by Steven Meisel. He captures Candy in a dreamlike state, where the frangrance is lifting her up, defying gravity.
During Milan Fashion Week, Prada presented a new chapter of The Iconoclasts project. Having launched in 2009, it has already seen the likes of Katie Grand, Carine Roitfeld and Olivier Rizzo stamp their trademark on the Prada brand.
This time it is the turn of Edward Enninful, currently fashion and style director of W Magazine. Taking over stores in Milan and St Petersburg, Enninful’s vision was inspired by the energy and original thought of the 1920’s ‘Harlem Renaissance’ in America. “Miucca Prada’s work always begins with a conversation. Drawing from this notion I looked to the ‘Harlem Renaissance’… a period of original thought when creative minds inspired and embraced a new cultural identity. I felt that this was an appropriate narrative to incorporate into this season’s Prada collection,” he explained of the project. His installations were on display last week, and information about future iterations of The Iconolasts series will be released soon.
It’s one of those can’t-leave-the-house-without-it-on products, one that has the power to make you look more awake at 8am on a miserable Monday morning. That’s a great power indeed. Mascara just so happened to be big news at the Prada AW14 show in Milan. Pat McGrath created a clumpy lash look for Miuccia Prada’s vision which saw models walk the catwalk with large defined eyes that complimented their fresh nude faces. This look is also a SS14 favourite, so here Twin picks some of the best mascaras on the market today.
Steven Meisel’s Spring/Summer 2014 campaign for Prada reflects the fierce and independent spirit of the collection. Teams of models hold us in their collective gaze, looking forward in a united vision.
Glowing with independent truth, a youthful idealism and aggressive optimism unites this modern feminine troupe.
Models: Julia Bergshoeff, Dorota Kullova, Ashleigh Good, Gracie Van Gastel, Amanda Murphy, Viktor Van Pelt, Maggie Jablonski, Lieke Van Houten, Maja Salamon, Ola Rudnicka, Sabrina Ioffreda, Magdalena Jasek, Nastya Sten, Cindy Bruna, Anna Ewers, Ophelie Guillermand, Malaike Firth, Lexi Bolling
One can now find Prada’s new jewellery collection in stores, and aren’t we excited! It is a colour explosion with a wide range of cuffs, bangles, bracelets and earrings, made with unexpected materials such as saffiano leather, crystals and exotic crocodile skin.
The collection is inspired by the innovation and seductive glamour of 1940s haute jewellery. Each piece is finely crafted using artisanal haute jewellery techniques and exquisite detailing.
The collection brings together Prada’s signature Saffiano textured leather in rich shades of orange, emerald green and turquoise with bold formations of geometric crystals, inspired by the art deco era and the natural world.
Fashion film has emerged as an innovative new approach to the genre, but leave it to Prada to pull out the big guns. For their new fragrance Candy L’Eau – a citrus, sweet pea and benzoin-scented flanker to the hit original created by Daniela Andrier – the house decided to let Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola create their own interpretation of the scent.
French actress Léa Seydoux stars in the playful short as the coquettish and love-torn protagonist, Candy. Just like this scent is a more lightweight interpretation of the 2011 original, CandyL’Eau is a playful take on joie de vivre. And too good to miss.
Watch the film and behind the scenes footage below.
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