Chapter 3 - Prada Day
This original Prada shop was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, Miuccia Prada’s grandfather.
Prada's century old home
In 1913, the founder of Prada, Mario Prada opened a premier boutique in the prestigious glass-covered Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II . You can see clues of its ancient flavour all around like in the mahogany shelving units, specially commissioned by Mario Prada to display handbags, luggage and travel accessories a century ago.
Among many friendly faces, I met Andrea, the deputy manager of the Prada head quarters, who guided me with many stories and the fascinating history of the original Prada boutique. Currently, Prada has three locations in Milan, but this main boutique inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is made irreplaceable because of all the touches left by Mario Prada like furniture, luggage and other items displayed. Muccia Prada prioritizes keeping these treasures in their original context to preserve the historical and sentimental significance of her Grandfather. It can also be seen here when Prada evolved their brand to include a knotted rope design into its logo and the House of Savoy’s coat of arms - reflecting when they became the official supplier of the Italian Royal Household in 1919.
What impressed me most was the gorgeous Prada Cane from the original launch of the brand! The craftsmanship of each cane was exquisite. Even after all these years, these canes are still superb condition! The following photos show a contrasts between historical artifacts and the SS19.
And of course, a great big, gracious thank you to Marianna and Andrea for your warm reception!
Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery
With over 130 years of history, this Milanese icon is a four-storied doubled arcade named after Vittorio Emanuele II , Italy’s first king after her reunification. Two cross-shaped corridors, topped with glass domes, meet together in an octagonal space. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II connects of Milan's other most famous tourist attractions: the Duomo di Milano and La Scala Opera House .
Housing experiences for aristocracy and the most refined and elegant members of Europe’s upper classes long ago, there are still many shops providing luxurious services in fashion, books to restaurants, cafes and bars, to just name a few. Nearby is Town House Galleria, where you can overlook the Duomo Square and the balcony of the neighbouring cathedral for some spectacular urban scenery!
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Prada總店之所以特別，是因為他有很多Mario Prada在創立品牌時所留下的東西，包括傢俱、行李箱等物品，這些物品Muccia Prada 堅持把它留在原來的位置上，不管是以利保存或是想要紀念爺爺的開店歷史，都別具意義。