In the spring of 1913 a Milano a small family-run company, Prada, which in a century has become an international group in the luxury sector.
The history of the group, led by Miuccia e Patrick Bertelli, is a great example of the fact that by working hard, with great sacrifices and with the right investments, success comes.
There are many strong points of the company, the Fondazione Prada as far as the contemporary art part is concerned, up to the collaboration with the most famous architecture firms to create unique stores in the world. The Prada Group it is constantly growing and is a flagship for the Italian fashion and economy.
The origins
The company was founded in 1913 when the two brothers Mario and Martino Prada open in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele a boutique that featured the sign "Prada brothers". It consisted mainly of suitcases, trunks, travel bags and handbags.
They were so successful that only six years later they became the official store of Royal House of Savoy. At the time this was one of the highest prestige that could be received.
From that year onwards, the success increased, making the store a national and international point of reference. Especially for everything related to the world of leather goods.
The business was really flourishing and, in those years, they opened a second shop in via Manzoni always in Milan.
The collapse after the war
The years of the Second World War were hard and when the Galleria in Milan was also bombed, the problems that arise were quite different. The shop in via Manzoni is closed while the first, the historic one, continues to hold out. Mario Prada died in 1958 and his two daughters took over Nanda and Luisa. The second, has a strong personality and sense of organization, changes the style of the company making it more suitable for the recovering bourgeoisie. Thus it was that the company managed to recover but until the 70s it still fails to have an important development.
The development of Prada
in 1977 Miuccia Prada, Mario's nephew takes over the reins of the company. She had a degree in Political sciences, had fought for women's rights. He decides to take over the family business. It began like this, a great growth path which will make the company a reference point for luxury fashion all over the world.
In 1977 he met Patrizio Bertelli for the first time and together they began a collaboration that is called "The leather workers of Italy". This had become an industrial company that distributed Prada products around the world.
In 1985 Miuccia herself, creative director of the company, designed the famous nylon backpack, symbol of Prada.
It was in the 90s that the fame of the maison grew when new products were distributed. Shoes, clothing for both men and women and collections "Ready to wear”Made by Miuccia herself with a sober and elegant style.
The first Prada fashion show was in 1988. A few years later a new brand was created, Miu Miu in which women's garments are presented with a more modern style and for a younger target.
The acquisitions of the company
A sportier line is created, recognized for famous red line. In 1999 the collection made its first appearance in the "Red Moon”Of the America's Cup of sailing.
Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Prada, decided that he wanted the company to become a mainstay of luxury and high fashion; it was thus that in those years a process of great acquisitions began. Let's see some of them: Group Church's, Helmut Lang To 50% Jil Sander, Fendi for 51% until it was sold to LVMH, Car Shoe to 51% e Holy Cross.
The development of Prada since 2000
In recent years, the first fragrances launched under the Prada brand, for both men and women and the first line of eyewear: Prada Eyewear. The Prada Group is famous throughout the world for its great propensity for turning points and for its high control organization in all phases of the production cycle.
The main activities carried out by the company are distribution and retail sales in many sectors of high fashion: from leather goods to footwear, from clothing to accessories.
In 2011, the company went public on theHong Kong Stock Exchange.
The company owns three other brands that are directly linked to the parent group: Miu Miu, Chruch's and Car Shoe which maintain their original identity firmly.
Fondazione Prada
In the early nineties, Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli created the project PradaMilanArt, which promotes exhibitions and displays of contemporary sculpture. Over the years the project has merged with the more famous "Prada Foundation". Every year, they are organized large contemporary art exhibitions with the collaboration of great international artists.
Both Miuccia and Patrizio have great attention and a great interest in the world of contemporary art. Hence the idea of the Foundation. An exhibition space where it was possible to present and exhibit the works in collaboration with both international and Italian artists.
In 2011, an office was added to the foundation, a Venezia at the palace Ca 'Corner della Regina, overlooking the Grand Canal.
In those same months the architect's great project was revealed Rem Koolhaas for the renewal of the Prada Foundation in Milan which then opened to the public in May 2015. The latter is a large exhibition space from the early twentieth century of approximately 17.500 square meters.
Like the company, the Foundation is also a great reference point for art and culture worldwide.
Miuccia Prada's words on the Foundation are: "Fondazione Prada is an initiative that aims to receive and retransmit the deepest mental provocations of the art of our time ".
Over the years, the foundation has undertaken various messages and subjects of exhibition and has opened up to the most diverse themes in many sectors. Among the most addressed: architecture, philosophy, science, design up to the cinema.
