Prada-handbagAround the world, “Prada” is shorthand for quality and style. A genuine Prada handbag makes a fashion statement with any outfit, whether it’s a dressy suit or a pair of faded jeans worth with a cashmere turtleneck sweater and a pair of boots. Learning about the history of the Prada house of design will make you prouder than ever to carry your Prada handbags.

Early Origins Of The Prada Brand

The world famous Prada brand originated in 1913 with a leather goods company created in Italy by Mario Prada. The company originally sold high quality leather goods: shoes, handbags, and luggage. Although Prada made leather goods in Italy during the early 1900s, the brand did not establish a global presence until the mid 1970s.

In 1978, when Mario Prada’s 28-year-old granddaughter Miuccia inherited the business from her mother, she took the brand in new directions, expanding into haute couture and establishing the future of the house of Prada. The young entrepreneur focused on a line of Prada handbags that included backpack bags and tote bags, elegant in their simplicity.

During the 1980s, Prada expanded its product line to include fashion-forward footwear and ready-to-wear women’s apparel, often created in shades of black. Prada became the brand of clean lines, modern design, and high quality materials in shoes, clothing, and Prada handbags.

Recent Prada History

Prada handbag -summer-2011Around 1992, Prada introduced its Miu Miu collection, for a younger, more playful audience. Prada handbags produced for Miu Miu could be described as “bohemian chic,” reminiscent of vintage goods with a modern twist. The Prada Sport collection soon followed, featuring Prada handbags with a decidedly athletic influence.

Prada Handbags In Popular Culture

The house of Prada made its way into popular culture in the early 2000s with the popular novel, The Devil Wore Prada, and the Hollywood film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. The film cast a spotlight on the global fashion industry, and the wardrobe for the movie included several stunning Prada handbags.

Prada handbags are indeed the ultimate in luxury. Prices range from several hundred dollars for a satin bag with gold-and-rhinestone handles to several thousand dollars for a patent leather bag with silver handles and decorative buckle trim.

Imitators try to cash in on the popularity of the brand, so buyers should beware and insist on receiving only authentic Prada handbags. Real Prada handbags feature straight, even stitching lines, genuine Prada logos, and the signature Prada liner fabric.

Filed under: Designer Handbags

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