Prada, back to basics with minimalist chic

On 15 January, during Milan Fashion Week, the presentation of the Prada collection revealed a back to the basics of the house, a minimalist fashion, in harmony with an era marked by a necessary return to essential values.

Shirts and ties with traditional cuts, linear jackets, leather tote bags, cigarette trousers: the collection is presented, according to Miuccia Prada's definition, as "made up of clothes that are useful to people", without frills. The few more colourful or eccentric details or accessories that adorn the models do not disrupt the primary intention: to display a pure and classic collection, with minimalist chic.

A return to the core of what constitutes the spirit of Prada, at a time when the company is about to undergo a major change. 

The Prada Group, founded in 1913 by Miuccia Prada's grandfather, is now headed by Andrea Guerra, who was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of the group. The businessman led the luxury eyewear giant Luxottica for ten years, from 2004 to 2014. During this decade, the Luxottica group's turnover more than doubled from 3 billion to 7 billion euros.

In 2019, after a brief stint in politics, Andrea Guerra had joined the LVMH galaxy, taking over the management of the French giant's hotel activities.

On 26 January, at the next board of directors meeting, the manager should therefore take over the direction of the Prada holding company: a transitional role before leadership within the group passes to the son of Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli: Lorenzo Bertelli. Now 34 years old, he has been executive director of the board since 2021.

Andrea Guerra will arrive at the top of the holding company at a time when the financial situation is particularly favourable. In the first half of the 2022 financial year, the company posted a turnover of 1.9 billion euros, which corresponds to an increase of 22% compared to the first half of the previous year, which had already achieved very good results.

Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada will remain on the board, as chairman of the board and creative director of Prada respectively. Raf Simons, who co-directs the creations with Miuccia Prada, is multiplying initiatives and projects within the group.

Recently, the Prada Foundation concluded a three-year project -Human Brains- dedicated to sponsoring research on the human brain.