“Since I was 16, I wanted to be the first one. I wanted to be different.” 

– Miuccia Prada

Miuccia Prada has a doctorate in political science and was a member of Italy’s Communist Party. She entered the family business (leather goods store) in Milan in 1971. Since the innovation of the nylon Prada bag, she and her husband, Patrizio Berterlli (CEO of the Prada Group), have led the brand’s influence to great heights. The Prada group is a $5 billion dollar a year company.

Miuccia Prada personally oversees bags, shoes, Womenswear,  Miu Miu – the line for the younger customer, Menswear, Prada Sport and Prada Beauty.  She says she admires the work of Marc Jacobs and Nicolas Ghesquiere.

Fondazione Prada, Prada’s spprivate art foundation’s new headquarters opened in Milan on May 9, 2015. The compound is over 118,000 square feet of exhibition space, and features special screenings as well as art installations and a cafe designed by Wes Anderson.

Prada Store in Beverly Hills, California

Photo by Angela Cohan