Earlier this year the fashion world received some incredibly buzzy news when it was announced that Raf Simon’s would be joining Miuccia Prada as co-creative director of the brand. Simon’s boasts an incredibly impressive resume, with stints at Christian Dior, Jil Sander and Calvin Klein. The news was not all that shocking, as upheavals at designer brands have been the norm—one designer is in and another is out. The most interesting part of the announcement was that Ms. Prada would remain at the helm of the brand and the two would be working alongside one another to reimagine the future of Prada for the 2020s. And reimagine they have, combining the viewpoints and fundamental values of each other to create a true foundation for the Prada Brand moving forward.
For spring 2021, the brand debuted the co-collaborators’ first collection for Prada, at a time when technology has become a vital part of human communication and interaction. Inspiration was drawn from this new normal, and the collection was inevitably shaped by the world’s current events. This season, fashion is presented as both a reflection and reaction to the time period in which it was created, and the result is a whole new Prada.
“This is a collection about what Prada means – the concept of Prada. Finding what Prada can mean today, with another perspective, another point of view.” – Miuccia Prada, on working with Raf Simons for the first time.
The collection as a whole combines iconic Prada house codes with an edge—putting a focus on the brand’s classic triangular logo throughout the collection. As for the bags, Simons and Prada showcased designs that focus on practicality and function. Nylon backpacks have the addition of pockets for added function (and RTW garments featured nylon pockets as well). Other designs are more simplistic and paired down, reflecting the current times, such as a sleek, structured top handle and a clean flap shoulder bag. Overall, with this collection, Simons and Prada set the foundation of this new Prada, particularly with a focus on the brand’s RTW. View bags from the collection below.
[images via Prada]
