Maison · Milan · Est. 1913
Prada
Intellectual minimalism — where Saffiano leather, Re-Nylon and the Re-Edition bag became the uniform of cerebral cool.
Origin
How the maison began.
Mario Prada opened the first store in 1913 in Milan's Galleria Vuitton Emanuele II, selling leather goods, trunks and handbags to the Italian aristocracy. The business passed to his daughter Luisa, then to her daughter Miuccia in 1978. Miuccia — a PhD in political science, former mime, and committed communist — had no fashion training. She transformed the family luggage house into one of the most intellectually rigorous brands in luxury, proving that ideas could sell as well as ornament.
Atelier
The philosophy of the workshop.
Prada's philosophy is built on contradiction: luxury made from industrial nylon; elegance derived from what Miuccia calls 'ugly chic'; handbags that reference the proletarian toolbox. The atelier in Milan's Via Bergamo is less a workshop than a laboratory — fabric innovations arrive before silhouette trends, and every collection reads as a critical essay on the season rather than a celebration of it. The result is clothing and accessories for people who prefer to think before they dress.
Signature Codes
What you are actually buying.
No. 01
Saffiano Leather
Invented by Mario Prada and patented in 1913, Saffiano is cross-hatch embossed calfskin that is virtually scratch-proof and water-resistant. The diagonal print and stiff structure give Prada's Galleria bag and wallets their architectural rigour. It is a leather designed for durability, not decoration — and has become the maison's most immediately recognisable surface.
No. 02
Re-Nylon
What began in 1984 as a black nylon backpack — an anti-luxury statement so radical it became luxury — has been reissued as Re-Nylon, a regenerated fabric made from ocean plastics and textile waste. The material is identical in hand and sheen to the original, but its provenance is now ecological. It appears on the Re-Edition bags, belt bags, and ready-to-wear with the same utilitarian cool it carried four decades ago.
No. 03
The Re-Edition 2005
The Re-Edition 2005 is the return of the small nylon shoulder bag that defined Y2K minimalism. Updated with removable leather straps, a chain detail, and the enamelled metal logo plaque, it carries the same dimensions and proportions as the original but is now produced in Re-Nylon. It is the maison's most democratic piece — worn across generations and price points.
No. 04
The Cleo Bag
Introduced in the AW20 collection, the Cleo is a structured hobo bag with a curved, almost aerodynamic silhouette and a distinctive slanted base. Made in brushed calf or Saffiano, it closes with a magnetic flap and carries no external hardware beyond a small enamelled triangle. It is Prada at its most sculptural — a bag that reads as architecture before it reads as accessory.
Pillar
Milanese Rationalism
Every collection is designed in the Via Bergamo atelier with the same rigour as a Milanese rationalist building — form follows function, ornament is suspect, and proportion is everything.
Pillar
Anti-Obvious Luxury
Prada's luxury is intellectual: nylon instead of leather, industrial zips instead of gold clasps, the 'ugly' shoe that becomes the only shoe. The value is in the idea, not the material.
Pillar
Sisterhood with Miu Miu
Miuccia's younger label Miu Miu sits in the same Milan atelier, cut from the same cloth but with the seriousness removed. What Prada intellectualises, Miu Miu playfully undermines.
Shop the Maison
A short edit from the current floor.
Frequently Asked
What clients ask about Prada.
Is Prada at Palace of Roman authentic?+
Yes. Every piece is sourced through Prada or its authorised European distribution partners, shipped with full traceability and tracked worldwide delivery.
What is the difference between Prada and Prada Re-Edition?+
Re-Edition is Prada's reissue programme that brings back archival silhouettes in updated materials — most notably Re-Nylon, a regenerated fabric made from ocean plastics. The shapes are identical to the originals; only the provenance has changed.
How do I care for Saffiano leather?+
Saffiano is naturally water-resistant and scratch-resistant due to its cross-hatch embossed finish. Wipe with a soft, dry cloth; avoid leather creams that can fill the embossed texture. Store stuffed to maintain structure.
What size Prada Re-Edition should I buy?+
The Re-Edition 2005 is compact — roughly 18cm wide — designed to carry a phone, card holder and keys. For everyday use, consider the larger Re-Edition 2006 or the Cleo hobo. Most clients take the 2005 as a secondary bag.
Where is Prada made?+
Prada's ready-to-wear, leather goods and footwear are produced in Italy, with the majority coming from the maison's own ateliers in Tuscany and Milan. The Re-Nylon material is produced in Italy from regenerated Econyl yarn.