Miuccia Prada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miuccia Bianchi Prada
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Prada in 2011
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| Born |
Maria Bianchi
10 May 1949 Milan, Italy
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| Education | University of Milan (BA, PhD) |
| Occupation | Fashion designer, Businessperson |
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Label(s)
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| Title | Co-CEO and head designer, Prada |
| Spouse(s) |
Patrizio Bertelli
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 2, including Lorenzo Bertelli |
| Relatives | Mario Prada (grandfather) |
| Awards | Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award (1993) |
Miuccia Bianchi Prada (born Maria Bianchi on 10 May 1949) is a famous Italian fashion designer and businesswoman. She is known for being the main designer for the luxury brand Prada. She also started her own brand called Miu Miu.
Miuccia Prada is the youngest granddaughter of Mario Prada, who started the Prada company. She took over the family business in 1978. Since then, the company has grown a lot. It has bought other fashion brands like Jil Sander and Helmut Lang. In 2002, Prada even opened her own modern art museum.
Forbes magazine has recognized her many times. In 2013, they named her one of the best-dressed people over 50. In 2014, she was listed as the 75th most powerful woman in the world.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Miuccia Prada was born Maria Bianchi on May 10, 1949, in Milan, Italy. She later changed her name to Miuccia Prada in the 1980s. This happened after she was adopted by her aunt. Her parents were Luigi Bianchi and Luisa Prada. She also has two older siblings, Albert and Marina.
After high school, Miuccia went to the University of Milan. She earned a degree in political science in 1971. At the same time, she studied acting at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. Later, in 1978, she also earned a PhD in political science from the same university.
Her Career in Fashion
Early Steps
Before fashion, Prada trained at the Teatro Piccolo. She became a mime artist and performed for five years. In the 1970s, she was also involved in political groups in Milan. She supported social change, including the women's rights movement.
Working at Prada
In the mid-1970s, Miuccia joined her family's business. Her grandfather started the company in 1913. It made fancy leather bags. At first, she focused on designing accessories. In 1978, she met Patrizio Bertelli, who would become her husband and business partner.
Prada's first big success in design came in 1985. She created a popular line of black handbags made from a special nylon fabric. By 1989, she launched her first collection of women's ready-to-wear clothes. This means clothes that are made in standard sizes and sold ready to wear. In 1995, she started her first line for men.
The Miu Miu brand was launched in 1992. It was a less expensive clothing line for women. Miuccia named it after her own nickname, Miu Miu. The designs were inspired by her personal style.
In 1994, Prada started showing her collections in New York and London Fashion Week. She was already showing her designs at Milan Fashion Week. Her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, handles the business side of Prada. He manages sales and how the stores operate. The company has grown into a large group. It now includes other brands like Helmut Lang and Jil Sander. Prada also sells leather goods, shoes, perfumes, and clothes for both men and women.
Since 2014, Miuccia Prada has been the co-CEO of Prada. She shares this role with her husband. In 2020, she presented her last collection as the only creative director. Now, she shares that design responsibility with Raf Simons.
Other Projects
In 2010, Miuccia Prada designed costumes for an opera. It was for the Verdi opera "Attila". This opera was performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
Her Business Ideas
Prada believes that art and fashion are different. She says, "Art is for expressing ideas and for expressing a vision. My job is to sell." This means she focuses on making beautiful clothes that people want to buy.
Achievements and Recognition
Awards and Honors
Miuccia Prada has received many awards for her work:
- 1993, 2004: International Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
- 1995, 1996, 1998: VH1 Fashion Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year.
- 2005:' Named one of Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People.
- 2006: Received the Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture.
- 2013: International Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
- 2014: Listed as the 75th most powerful woman by Forbes.
- 2015: Fashion Innovator of the Year from WSJ Magazine.
- 2015: Knight of the Grand Cross, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
- 2016: Woman of the Year Award from Glamour USA.
- 2018: Outstanding Achievement Award from the British Fashion Council.
- 2021: John B. Fairchild Honor for Lifetime Achievement by WWD magazine.
Exhibitions
In 2012, Miuccia Prada was featured in a special art exhibition. It was called "Impossible Conversations" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition also featured another famous designer, Elsa Schiaparelli.
Personal Life
Miuccia Prada is married to Patrizio Bertelli, who is also a businessman. They have two sons, born in 1988 and 1990. Their older son, Lorenzo Bertelli, is a rally car driver. The couple lives in the same apartment where Miuccia was born.
Prada loves collecting modern art. She owns many artworks by artists known as Young British Artists. She is also friends with artists like Cindy Sherman and Francesco Vezzoli.
She has also been a godmother to a Luna Rossa boat nine times. This is a team that competes in sailing races.
Honors
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (awarded on 21 December 2015)
See also
In Spanish: Miuccia Prada para niños
