Prada
Prada Group · Italy
Prada is an Italian luxury house founded in Milan in 1913 and the flagship brand of the Hong Kong listed Prada Group, which also owns Miu Miu, Church's and, since December 2025, Versace. Under Miuccia Prada it became known for an intellectual approach to luxury and for turning industrial nylon into a status material.
| Founded | 1913, Milan |
|---|---|
| Founders | Mario and Martino Prada |
| Owner | Prada Group (listed in Hong Kong) |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
| Creative direction | Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons (since 2020) |
| Group CEO | Andrea Guerra (since 2023) |
| Website | prada.com |
What is Prada?
Prada is the main brand of Prada S.p.A., a Milan-based luxury group whose shares trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the ticker 1913, a reference to the year of its founding. The group portfolio includes Prada, Miu Miu, Versace, Church's, Car Shoe, Marchesi 1824 and Luna Rossa.
History
Mario Prada and his brother Martino opened Fratelli Prada in Milan in 1913, selling leather goods and travel articles. The business later passed to Mario's granddaughter Miuccia Prada, who with her husband Patrizio Bertelli expanded it into a global fashion company. Waterproof nylon backpacks and totes were first released in 1979, women's ready-to-wear followed in 1988, and the group listed in Hong Kong in June 2011. In 2025 it agreed to buy Versace from Capri Holdings for €1.25 billion, and the deal completed in December 2025.
Products and positioning
Prada sits at the top of the luxury market with ready-to-wear, leather goods, footwear and accessories for women and men. Its design language mixes restrained shapes with unexpected materials and references to art, film and photography. Since 2020 the collections have been designed by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons as co-creative directors.
- Nylon bags and backpacks, a signature since 1979
- Women's and men's ready-to-wear shown in Milan
- Eyewear licensed to Luxottica
- Fragrance and beauty licensed to L'Oréal
Business model and distribution
The group relies mainly on directly operated stores, with more than 600 boutiques, supported by e-commerce and selective wholesale to department stores and specialist retailers. Eyewear and beauty are run through licences. Patrizio Bertelli is chairman of the group, and Andrea Guerra has been chief executive since 2023. Group revenue reached €5.43 billion in 2024.
Why it matters
Prada shows how a family company can become a listed, multi-brand group while keeping a distinct creative identity and Italian manufacturing roots. With the addition of Versace, the group has become Italy's most significant consolidator in luxury fashion and a direct challenger to the large French groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Prada?
Prada is owned by Prada S.p.A., a group listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and controlled by the Prada and Bertelli families. The group also owns Miu Miu, Church's and Versace.
Who designs Prada?
Since 2020 Prada's collections have been designed by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons as co-creative directors. Miuccia Prada is the granddaughter of co-founder Mario Prada.