Prada Shoes

In 1913, Mario Prada opened his first shop in Milan, Italy, selling shoes, handbags and luggage trunks. Originally called Fratelli Prada or Prada Brothers, he made a name selling fine shoes and bags. His classic walrus skin suitcase was the classic travel necessity for the fashionable, but this gave way to lighter, more practical designs with the advent of air travel. Adding high quality touches to these newer, lighter bags such as crystal, wood and tortoise shell, he began to make a name for himself. His business grew and he expanded his sales to the US, exporting waterproof garments. Despite his successes, the Prada Company began to decline in the 70's.

Having worked in her grandfather's boutiques for some time, Muccia Prada took over the company in 1979. She had already had some success crafting and selling bags made of a waterproof fabric called Pocone and when she inherited the business from her mother, she immediately set to expanding the company's lines to include luxury items such as tote bags and backpacks. Constructed from crisp nylon, the clean, flat lines of the bags caught on and helped bring the company back out of the slump it had been in. Her products exemplified a futuristic and contemporary design combined with tradition manufacturing techniques.

In 1985 Muiccia launched a line of footwear and also began creating and marketing the company's first prêt a porter line of clothing. Made with high quality fabrics and modernist design, the line quickly took off. The elegantly understated garments garnered praise for the company and in 1993 she received the International Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 1995 she also won the prestigious Designer of the Year award.