August 7, 2025 | Posted in Blog
With iconic campaigns fronted by celebs like Emma Watson, Carey Mulligan, Hunter Schafer, Letitia Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Sabrina Carpenter, Prada has established itself as not only a trendsetting machine but also a pop culture staple.
From classic pieces to modern viral moments, this fashion house hasn’t stopped for over a century, and, after so long in the game, we can’t wait to see what it does next.
In this blog, we’re taking a look at where Prada came from, what makes it truly legendary, and the products we’re loving from this brand.
It’s rare that a brand can balance innovation with minimalism, but Prada has mastered this. While many fashion houses make their names with one trailblazing product, Prada has standout pieces in every style genre, so whether you’re an accessory collector or love investing in designer clothes, there’s something for you from this brand.
Prada is the namesake of brothers Mario and Martino, starting its life as a leather goods shop in 1913. This flagship store was in the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, and the duo focused on trunks, bags, and travel accessories. The shop front read, ‘Fratelli Prada’ (The Brothers Prada), and they would sell to some of Italy’s finest.
By 1919, Prada became the official supplier of the Italian Royal House, boosting its overall image. At this point, Prada had already created its instantly recognisable triangle logo, but now they could include the House of Savoy coat of arms and knotted rope design too, creating a classic trademark.
Mario Prada led the business for several decades, but unfortunately, he wasn’t very progressive, believing women shouldn’t be involved in running a business. Irony would hit him in the face when his son took no interest in taking over the company. Instead, his daughter, Luisa, would take over in 1958.
We would be lying if we told you that Luisa made waves in the fashion industry with her 20-year tenure, but she ensured the brand remained successful enough to make money. In 1978, her daughter, Miuccia Prada, would then take the reins as head designer.
As a fashion house, Prada had kept things very traditional for years, and what they needed was a rebellious touch. Cue Miuccia, a former political science student and mime. She may have never landed into the high-fashion industry if it wasn’t for her family ties, but after initial disinterest, she had big ambitions and a different point of view.
She faced a lot of criticism at the time. As an active feminist, many disliked or disagreed with her presence in a fashion company, but she had a passion for it and chose to ignore this backlash.
Just a year before she had taken over as head designer, Miuccia had met Patrizio Bertelli, who owned his own leather goods company. She had the designing instinct, and he had the business knowledge, so when she became Prada’s CEO, he joined the company too.
Their dynamic partnership would lead to Prada’s first shoe line – an indicator that change was coming. This elegant collection was incredibly successful, with many new consumers taking note of what this fashion house had to offer.
Prada had made bags for decades, but Miuccia added style and flair with her first breakthrough bag, the Prada Vela. This chic black nylon backpack launched in 1984 and was a great representation of Prada’s aesthetic – understated, wearable and effortlessly stylish. After years of eccentric, luxury fashion and in a decade as loud as the 80s, this was refreshing.
As for her and Patrizio, probably unsurprisingly to their friends and family, they got married in 1988.
The same year as their wedding, Miuccia and Patrizio decided to take a huge step with the brand. During Milan fashion week, Prada would debut its first ready-to-wear collection on the runway. There was some intial shock at the new look but, quickly, Prada would be praised for making a statement.
Miuccia was truly ahead of her time, enjoying the contrast of masculine and feminine designs. The debut collection was actually inspired by Miuccia’s personal sense of style, plus her love of the school uniform look.
The brand also found inspiration in modern art of the time, with many Prada collaborations being with notable architects and artists. Even the physical Prada stores would be influenced by this – many had gorgeous designs and immersive art experiences and installations.
As the 90s came around, Prada’s goal was clear – fashion domination. It would acquire Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, and Church’s Shoes, proving that Prada wasn’t going to stay limited to what it was doing before.
In 1993, Miuccia would branch out further, launching Prada’s playful, edgier little sister brand, Miu Miu.
Prada lit up multiple runways during the 90s, with some of our favourite supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Carla Bruni, Linda Evangelista, and, of course, Kate Moss being featured in shows.
In 1990, Prada by Prada, the company’s first fragrance, would debut and it’s still selling to this day.
By the Fall-Winter 1994 collection, it had expanded to accessories and apparel and then, in 1997, it launched its first sports line, Prada Linea Rossa. To say this was a hit would be an understatement. Combining the streetwear trend that was in at the time with high-end, avant-garde materials, this collection spoke to the consumer.
As 2000 came and went, Prada stayed on top, releasing its famous nylon mini bag. Prada’s Vela backpack was the first to use this nylon material, and Miuccia has kept it in rotation ever since the backpack and then subsequently the mini bag, became so popular.
The 1999 teen classic, ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ even referenced the Vela when character, Bianca Stratford, paraphrases Shakespeare and iconicly says, “There’s a difference between like and love. Because, I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack”
Yes, the film industry seemingly loved Prada. Continuing with the Shakespeare theme, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) would showcase a blue suit (worn by Leonardo DiCaprio) custom-made by Miuccia Prada. Juliet’s (Claire Danes) stunning angel party dress was also a little Prada number.
As Prada accumulated several designer brands, by 2003, a strategic move was put in place, and the Prada Group was formed.
In 2006, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, starring absolute icons Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, was released, solidifying the fashion house as not only a fashion staple but also a pop culture phenomenon. After all, who hasn’t watched this film?
The brand would go from strength to strength, creating sell-out pieces throughout the 2000s, including the gorgeous Galleria bag in 2007.
There was also a shift to a more glam aesthetic, with the spring/summer 2010 show featuring a host of structured power jackets and chandelier-style, crystal-studded, baby-doll dresses. (We’re still thinking about the sparkle to this day)
The very next year, they’d go even bolder with a vibrant collection, celebrating influences like jazz star Josephine Baker.
Pat McGrath and Guido Palau, effortlessly chic ‘lazy-girl’ makeup and hair looks for Prada’s autumn/winter 2013 show, perfectly paired with the film-noir inspired collection that year, showing another shift for the brand’s creative efforts.
Prada remained loyal to its chic design aesthetic, but consumers would appreciate the consistent and always fun evolution throughout this era.
The last decade has been a strong one for Prada, with viral products, celeb endorsements, and eye-catching runways galore.
After her graphic cartoon-inspired spring/summer collection, 2018 proved to be an amazing year for Miuccia, as the British Fashion Council would award the Outstanding Achievement Award to her, acknowledging her contribution to the global fashion industry. It was also her and Patrizio’s 30th wedding anniversary.
2020 brought Belgian designer Raf Simons as co-creative director. Perhaps a sign of Miuccia wanting to slowly take a step back, they shared equal responsibility of creative direction. For the Spring/Summer 2021 season, they released their first joint collection, going back to Prada’s roots with sportswear pieces, 1950s elements and the signature Nylon material.
Prada, playing on the current nostalgia resurgence, has rereleased multiple pieces, bringing back bags like the Nylon Mini. In the fall-winter 2023 fashion show, uniform-inspired clothing also made a return.
‘Prada Green’ has been a popular choice for the brand’s stores for decades, with the brand’s Milan Via della Spiga location opening with it on the walls in 1983. Flash forward 40 years and over 600 stores across the world later, newer locations like the Prada Caffè at Harrods still incorporate this classic green.
In 2023, Miuccia would step down as co-CEO of the Prada Group, being succeeded by businessman Andrea Guerra. Patrizio then also stepped down. Miuccia does still continue to serve as an Executive Director on the Board and collaborates creatively with Raf.
Prada’s dreamy 2025 ‘Days of Summer’ collection was fronted by Kendall Jenner, Hunter Schafer, and Troye Sivan – a reflection of its dedication to staying relevant but authentic.
Prada remains a fashion house and brand that understands trends and its customer base. It isn’t predictable, but it does lean on its own foundation to continue standing tall, and that is something we at Your Dream Bag can’t help but admire. If you’re obsessed with a Prada piece, we don’t blame you – there’s a lot to love and, with how the brand keeps switching things up, a lot to look forward to.
As you can see, there have been some seriously stunning Prada pieces that many of us probably have in our fantasy shopping carts. Down below is a list of our all-time favourites that, if we had all the money in the world, would already be in our wardrobes.
We have to start off with this fan favourite. As we’ve mentioned above, the Prada Nylon mini bag was originally released in 2000, but this re-edition brings back those nostalgic vibes. The big difference? Prada changed the synthetic nylon material to Econyl, a more sustainable alternative – easy to clean too.
This style is just so wearable and, even though it does come in multiple colourways, you can’t beat the OG black. #pradanylonbag has millions of views on TikTok, making it a true viral sensation that’s instantly recognisable.
Want one of these for yourself? We don’t blame you! Check out our Re-Nylon Prada Re-Edition 2000 Mini-Bag draw to get your hands on one.
If we’re going to mention one of the legendary Nylon bags, we have to mention the other. This was Miuccia Prada’s first Prada success story, and its impact on the fashion industry can’t be overlooked.
This simple but chic backpack fits all your essentials and looks fab while doing it. Loved by Emma Watson, you can get it in a few sizes and style variations, but we think the medium version is unmatched.
The Flame Stiletto
We may need to beg Prada to bring these back because they were something truly special. Taking standard sandal heels and elevating them to this avant-garde design, the Flame stilettos aren’t just elegant, they’re a lot of fun.
They made their runway debut in 2012 and also have a wedge version. They’ve been worn by Kendall Jenner, Alicia Keys, and even Beyoncé on stage. If you find these on a legitimate resale site, you may have hit the fashion jackpot.
Yes, yet another Re-Nylon smash-hit, but this time, it’s the headband of our dreams. Preppy but classic, it includes the Prada logo in its design to let everyone know exactly what you’re wearing.
Proof that you don’t need an accessory to be fussy to make an impact, it’s made from recycled ocean plastic materials like fishing nets and fabric fibres.
Another Emma Watson favourite, Paradoxe, is one of Prada’s most popular fragrances. It has intense musky notes, but it remains super inviting, not overwhelming. The bottle is shaped like the Prada logo, which is a fun touch that we think would look amazing on any vanity setup.
Whether you love the more traditional mini skirt or a version with a twist like the panelled-train silk-gabardine version, Prada knows how to make a gorg mini skirt.
They’re fun and flirty but also always easy to style, matching the brand’s ethos perfectly, plus they’re crafted to fit just right.
Since 2007, this sophisticated handbag has been every fashionista’s obsession. It’s another big money-maker for Prada, and we can see why; it’s elegant and spacious with a timeless look. Even better? It comes in five sizes: micro, mini, small, medium and large.
Made at Prada’s Scandicci factory in Florence, the Galleria is actually made of 83 high-quality leather pieces and has been seen on the arm of celebs like Taylor Swift, Princess of Wales, and Scarlett Johansson.
Prada loafers have been popular since the 90s, with a comfortable fit and unisex aesthetic that anyone can wear. The quality is, as always, stunning and styling them is almost effortless.
A chunky sole can go a long way, so if you want a reliable pair of shoes you’ll look forward to wearing every day, the Prada loafers are a must-have.
If you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to your wardrobe with a quality designer bag, Your Dream Bag may be just what you’re looking for.
With our handpicked selection of designer handbags, accessories, luxury home goods, and easy-to-enter competitions, getting your hands on your next fashion fave is just a few clicks away.
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