This information might help you to
choose your handbag, wallet or other accessories from
your favorite designer Prada.
Prada is an Italian Fashion House established in
Milan, Italy in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother.
The company became a purveyor of quality leather goods.
In 1978, Mario's granddaughter Miuccia Prada, took over
the helm of the company. With her distinctive style in
clothing, footwear and accessories, Miuccia Prada
developed an innovative line of both clothing and
accessories. The use of microfiber in leather goods and
clothing can be attributed to her.
Since the mid-1990s, there have been few status
symbols as potent as the Prada-embossed silver
triangle. The power of the Prada badge is such that it
transforms even an ordinary black nylon knapsack into a
must-have accessory. But it has not always been that
way. Before the arrival of Miuccia Prada, and,
especially before Uma Thurman sauntered down the
red-carpeted Academy Awards in that spectacular
lavender chiffon dress, Prada was just a family-run
leather goods business stuck in the fashion backwaters
of Milan. The combination of smart management, clever
designs, and media might turned Prada into, well,
beach-front property sitting atop a gold mine.
Miuccia Prada's grandfather opened a boutique
selling high quality leather goods and accessories in
1913 in Milan. Business was consistent but by the '70s,
high-powered competitors like Gucci and Hermès had
forced Prada into near-bankruptcy. In 1978, Miuccia
Prada and her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, reluctantly
took control of the floundering business. Patrizio took
charge of management while Miuccia, who had eschewed
the family business to take a Ph.D. degree in political
science, designed collections. Now, over two decades
later, they head a eight-hundred-million-dollar
business.
Prada did not venture into ready-to-wear until 1989.
Miuccia Prada's first collection was a seemingly
impossible contradiction: a minimalist reincarnation of
the 1970s. We recognized the bell-bottoms and the
peasant blouses, but they were stripped of hippy
frou-frou and rendered in neutral shades.
Since then, Miuccia Prada has guided the company's
ready-to-wear line into inventive territory. There was
the Mondrian-inspired collection of white dresses
decorated with thin red strips ending in dots like
long, skinny exclamation marks. Critics praised her
spring-summer '98 show for its embroidered latex,
horizontal beading and flowers. Wavy, uncertain hems
gave the collection a homespun feel while
computer-generated prints kept it future-savvy.
Prada has also made a name for itself in fabric
innovation. Miuccia Prada has experimented with
translucent latexes and papery polyamides, mixed
plastics and satins, and incorporated strips of film
and mirror fragments into her clothing.
The success of the flagship Prada line led the
company to start the youth-targeted 'Miu Miu' line in
1992. There are other offshoots like 'Granello' and
'Prada Sport', and a lingerie line that was added in
1997, but Prada has developed surprisingly few
licenses. We have as yet to see the Prada perfumed
candles or what is certain to be cutting-edge Prada
spectacles.
The company has made headlines in unusual ways.
Prada surprised the stock market with a sudden raid on
the Gucci group in the summer of 1998, initially buying
5.05 % of Gucci stock, and subsequently increasing its
share to 9,5%. Prada will certainly also receive
substantial media exposure for their participation in
the America's Cup in March 2000.
Prada Boutique
A photo of Prada Boutique Pretty in Prada! That's
the echoing world in the fashion world. Basic black,
basic green, basic gray, basic white. Almost all the
colors and designs are basic. But what an addition to
your wardrobe!
The boutique displays Prada's simplicity in design -
the signature mint green walls and mint green carpet,
and custom-built shelves which are wall insets. The
style is open-sell, customers are invited to handle the
merchandise - touch and feel the world renown quality
and craftmanship of Prada.
The shelves are lighted both on top and at the
bottom (behind the merchandise) casting a glow, which
emphasize them. The dark colors contrast the pastel
mint green walls.
Notice the recessed lighting on the ceiling which
are unobtrusive yet warm, bright and inviting. The
lights are evenly spaced around the boutique, no dark
corners, emphasis are from the shelf lighting.
The two tables are used to sell small leather goods
such as belts, wallets and pocketballs. Strategically
placed at the center, both tables can be accessed on
all four sides.
The sales staff are well trained and unobtrusive,
not hovering, allowing the customers to browse. And
yet, they are easy to find when a customer needs
assistance and to make a purchase.
Simply perfect! That is Prada. This boutique wins
hands down in my eyes, a personal favorite. The mint
green walls and carpet, great lighting, spacious and
yet small in area (this boutique is less than 2000 sq.
ft). Great space design and use of lights.
The front window is simple, straight forward and to
the point. Frosted plexi glass was used to display the
bags which create a floating effect. You almost don't
see the shelf, your eyes focused on the merchandise.
One purse on top, a pair of shoes in the middle and
a grouping of three bags from the same design group of
the shoes and bag on the upper level are used.
Prada Purses
Prada
Handbags
