Prada Fashion story

The first Prada store opened in 1913 in the prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II in Milan, Italy. Mario Prada opened the leather goods shop with his brother, Martino. The store sold bags, trunks, steamers, and travel accessories.

In 1919, Prada was awarded the title of Official Supplier of the Italian Royal House. This prestigious distinction allowed Prada to display the House of Savoy coat of arms and knotted rope design in its trademark logo. This honor is what makes Prada a symbol of the Italian aristocracy.

This history of Prada gets even more interesting. In the patriarchal style of the times, Mario Prada did not believe that women should work outside the home. He excluded his female family members from working for his company. Ironically, his only son had no interest in the family business. His daughter Luisa Prada took over the family business as Mario’s successor and ran it for almost twenty years.