Last week luxury fashion designer Prada caused serious excitement across Milan and New York as it launched an eponymous book offering a much anticipated look into one of the most famous fashion houses in the world. Press and public alike became desperate to learn the inner workings of this legendary institution, and it seems that Prada have given its fans just that, and, refreshingly, has steered clear from offering sartorial advice.
The 708 page volume is divided into two halves, ‘Inside’ and ‘Outside’, with the first half detailing the inner workings of the brand and the second looking at its public face and the fanatical fan base it has built up. Mentioning everything from red carpet successes to eBay listings and blogs by devoted fans the book is not afraid to talk of Prada’s less sophisticated edge. The book also tells of its ambitious plans for the future, including a new Prada museum, construction of which is already underway just outside Milan.
Elements of the book are perhaps a little self indulgent, such as the section which includes 3,885 thumbnail photographs from the Prada runway since 1987 and detailed information about every advertising campaign undertaken by the brand over the last 20 years. At EUR 100 the hefty volume certainly isn’t cheap but perhaps if you were one of those eBay-posting devotees then you might just consider it worth it.
The book is available now from selected Prada stores and from www.prada.com
