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113-490: Prada S.p.A. ( / ˈ p r ɑː d ə / , PRAH -də ; Italian: [ˈpraːda] ) is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada . It specializes in leather handbags, travel accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear , and other fashion accessories. Prada licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear and L’Oréal for fragrances and cosmetics. Founded in 1913 and named for

226-439: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ), tending to Mediterranean ( Csa ). It has hot summers with moderate or light rainfall and cool, damp winters. As Florence lacks a prevailing wind, summer temperatures are higher than along the coast. Rainfall in summer is convectional , while relief rainfall dominates in the winter. Snow is rare. The highest officially recorded temperature was 42.6 °C (108.7 °F) on 26 July 1983 and

339-460: A nylon fabric. She met Patrizio Bertelli in 1977, an Italian who had begun his own leather goods business at the age of 24, and he joined the company soon after. He advised Miuccia on company business, which she followed. It was his advice to discontinue importing English goods and to change the existing luggage. Miuccia inherited the company in 1978 by which time sales were up to U.S. $ 450,000. With Bertelli alongside her as business manager, Miuccia

452-724: A secundogeniture of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, who were deposed for the House of Bourbon-Parma in 1801. From 1801 to 1807 Florence was the capital of the Napoleonic client state Kingdom of Etruria . The Bourbon-Parma were deposed in December 1807 when Tuscany was annexed by France . Florence was the prefecture of the French département of Arno from 1808 to the fall of Napoleon in 1814. The Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty

565-529: A Roman city, and later, after a long period as a flourishing trading and banking medieval commune , it was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance . It was politically, economically, and culturally one of the most important cities in Europe and the world from the 14th to 16th centuries. The language spoken in the city during the 14th century came to be accepted as the model for what would become

678-585: A fair sector of Florence's economy. The city's income relies partially on services and commercial and cultural interests, such as annual fairs, theatrical and lyrical productions, art exhibitions, festivals and fashion shows, such as the Calcio Fiorentino . Heavy industry and machinery also take their part in providing an income. In Nuovo Pignone, numerous factories are still present, and small-to medium industrial businesses are dominant. The Florence-Prato-Pistoia industrial districts and areas were known as

791-593: A leather goods shop in Milan. Initially, the shop sold animal goods, imported English steamer trunks, handbags. Alongside these handcrafted leather goods, Prada also sold travel accessories, as well as beauty cases, jewelry, luxury items, and rare objects. Mario Prada opens an exclusive store in Milan’s prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II that sells leather bags, trunks, beauty cases, jewels, luxury accessories, and rare objects. Mario Prada did not believe women should have

904-626: A legitimization of political expediency and even malpractice. Machiavelli was a political thinker, renowned for his political handbook The Prince , which is about ruling and exercising power. Commissioned by the Medici, Machiavelli also wrote the Florentine Histories , the history of the city. In 1512, the Medici retook control of Florence with the help of Spanish and Papal troops. They were led by two cousins, Giovanni and Giulio de' Medici , both of whom would later become Popes of

1017-600: A location in the Piazza del Duomo. In October 2021, Florence was shortlisted for the European Commission 's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award along with Bordeaux , Copenhagen , Dublin , Ljubljana , Palma de Mallorca and Valencia . Food and wine have long been an important staple of the economy. The Chianti region is just south of the city, and its Sangiovese grapes figure prominently not only in its Chianti Classico wines but also in many of

1130-493: A programme of spraying church steps with water to prevent tourists from using such areas as picnic spots. While he values the benefits of tourism, he claims that there has been "an increase among those who sit down on church steps, eat their food and leave rubbish strewn on them", he explained. To boost the sale of traditional foods, the mayor had introduced legislation (enacted in 2016) that requires restaurants to use typical Tuscan products and rejected McDonald's application to open

1243-443: A result. In 2015, Mayor Dario Nardella expressed concern over visitors who arrive on buses, stay only a few hours, spend little money but contribute significantly to overcrowding. "No museum visit, just a photo from the square, the bus back and then on to Venice ... We don't want tourists like that", he said. Some tourists are less than respectful of the city's cultural heritage, according to Nardella. In June 2017, he instituted

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1356-400: A role in business, so he prevented female family members from entering his company. Ironically, Mario's son had no interest in the business, so it was Mario's daughter Luisa who succeeded Mario and ran Prada for almost twenty years. Luisa's daughter, Miuccia Prada , joined the company in 1970, eventually taking over from Luisa in 1978. Miuccia began making waterproof backpacks out of Pocono ,

1469-483: A strong sporty heritage like Bikkembergs , has got a few high end companies focused on this style like GCDS , OFF White founded by American Virgil Abloh but based in Milan , Stone island . In sportswear some of the most prominent houses are Diadora , Fila , and Kappa . A few Italian designers head (or have headed) some important fashion brands outside Italy. Riccardo Tisci had been working for French luxury house Givenchy for twelve years until 2017 and in 2018

1582-528: A subsidiary of Prada around this time period; the company additionally partnered with LVMH to acquire a joint stake in Fendi ; Prada further assisted LVMH in its failed takeover of Gucci . The brand struggled through the late 2000s and early to mid 2010s, which included a failed initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange , though began a resurgence in popularity entering into

1695-431: A vast patronage network along with his alliance to the new immigrants, the gente nuova (new people). The fact that the Medici were bankers to the pope also contributed to their ascendancy. Cosimo was succeeded by his son Piero , who was, soon after, succeeded by Cosimo's grandson, Lorenzo in 1469. Lorenzo was a great patron of the arts, commissioning works by Michelangelo , Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli . Lorenzo

1808-530: A very important manufacturing district for shoes and leather components in the Adriatic coast. Fashion houses Fabiana Filippi and Brunello Cucinelli 's home is the region of Umbria and luxury brands Kiton and Harmont & Blaine were founded in Naples which is also another prominent area of the country for the manufacturing of apparel and accessories (especially shoes and leather goods in general around

1921-508: A voice as one of Gucci's largest shareholders (a 10 percent holding would be required for the right to request a seat on the board) and would stand to profit tidily should anyone try to take over Gucci." However, Bertelli sold his shares to Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault in January 1998 for a profit of US$ 140 million. Arnault was in fact attempting a take over of Gucci. LVMH had been purchasing fashion companies for

2034-697: A while and already owned Dior , Givenchy , and other luxury brands. Gucci, however, managed to fend him off by selling a 45% stake to industrialist François Pinault , for US$ 3 billion. In 1998, the first Prada menswear boutique opened in Los Angeles. Prada was determined to hold a leading portfolio of luxury brands, like the Gucci group and LVMH. Prada purchased 51% of Helmut Lang 's company based in New York for US$ 40 million in March 1999. Lang's company

2147-638: Is Pitti Immagine in Florence at the Fortezza da Basso , held twice a year. Florence, Italy Florence ( / ˈ f l ɒr ən s / FLORR -ənss ; Italian : Firenze [fiˈrɛntse] ) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany . It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 364,073 inhabitants in 2024, and 990,527 in its metropolitan area . Florence

2260-408: Is Via de' Tornabuoni , where major luxury fashion houses and jewelry labels, such as Armani and Bulgari , have their elegant boutiques. Via del Parione and Via Roma are other streets that are also well known for their high-end fashion stores. Rome is widely recognized as a world fashion capital . Although not as important as Milan , Rome is the world's 4th most important centre for fashion in

2373-518: Is a major production and commercial centre in Italy, where the Florentine industrial complexes in the suburbs produce all sorts of goods, from furniture, rubber goods, chemicals, and food. Traditional and local products, such as antiques, handicrafts, glassware, leatherwork, art reproductions, jewellery, souvenirs, elaborate metal and iron-work, shoes, accessories and high fashion clothes also occupy

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2486-461: Is an important global showcase. Although Milan, Rome and Florence are commonly regarded as the leading cities in Italian fashion, other cities, such as Venice , Vicenza , Prato , Turin , Naples and Bologna , are also important centres for Italian clothing design and industry. Venice, for instance, is the home of Italian fashion house Roberta di Camerino , which was founded in 1945. The brand

2599-729: Is famous for its handbags, and is most notably associated with the creation of the it bag , a form of handbag which is recognisable due to its status symbol . Brands such as Max Mara and United Colors of Benetton , despite being major Italian brands, are not headquartered in Milan, Rome or Florence, yet, the former has its headquarters in Reggio Emilia , and the latter in Ponzano Veneto . Italian holding OTB held by Renzo Rosso , owner of different ready-to-wear brands such as Diesel and also fashion houses like Marni , Dutch label Viktor & Rolf and Belgian Maison Margiela ,

2712-544: Is generally considered to be one of the "big four" global fashion capitals , along with New York, Paris, and London; occasionally, the "big five" also includes Rome. Italian fashion is linked to the most generalized concept of " Made in Italy ", a merchandise brand expressing excellence of creativity and craftsmanship. Italian luxury goods are renowned for the quality of the textiles and the elegance and refinement of their construction. Many French, British and American high-top luxury brands (such as Chanel , Dior , Balmain and

2825-407: Is headquartered in the countryside near Vicenza in the region of Veneto . Italian companies Cesare Paciotti and also Tod's , owned by businessman Diego Della Valle (which produces luxury shoes, other leather goods and also clothes under the labels of Tod's itself, Roger Vivier , Hogan, Fay and haute couture brand Schiaparelli ), Santoni , Bontoni are headquartered in the region of Marche ,

2938-402: Is home to many fashion magazines, such as Vogue Italia , Vanity Fair , Elle , Glamour , Grazia . Other Italian accessory and jewelry brands, such as Luxottica (owner, amongst several luxury eyewear brands, of Ray-Ban and Persol ), Safilo , Buccellati , Damiani , Vhernier, Pomellato , Dodo, Morellato , Officine Panerai and Bvlgari . Fashion in Italy started to become

3051-469: Is particularly strong, with world-renowned museums such as the Uffizi selling over 1.93 million tickets in 2014. The city's convention centre facilities were restructured during the 1990s and host exhibitions, conferences, meetings, social forums, concerts and other events. In 2016, Florence had 20,588 hotel rooms in 570 facilities. International visitors use 75% of the rooms; some 18% of those were from

3164-446: Is the most significant industry in central Florence. From April to October, tourists outnumber the local population. Tickets to the Uffizi and Accademia galleries are regularly sold out and large groups regularly fill the basilicas of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella , both of which charge for entry. Tickets for The Uffizi and Accademia can be purchased online prior to visiting. In 2010, readers of Travel + Leisure magazine ranked

3277-461: The Gucci group , and later blamed Gucci for "aping his wife's designs." In June 1998, Bertelli gained 9.5% return on investment at US$ 260 million. Analysts began to speculate that he was attempting a take over of the Gucci group. The proposition seemed unlikely, however, because Prada was at the time still a small company and was in debt. Funding Universe states that "At the very least, Prada had

3390-783: The Helmut Lang , Amy Fairclough, Ghee, and Jil Sander labels were sold. Jil Sander was sold to the private equity firm Change Capital Partners, which was headed by Luc Vandevelde, the chairman of Carrefour , while the Helmut Lang label is now owned by Japanese fashion company Link Theory. Prada is still recovering from the Fendi debt. More recently, a 45% stake of the Church & Company brand has been sold to Equinox. The Prada Spring/Summer 2009 Ready-to-Wear fashion show, held on 23 September 2008 in Milan , got infamous coverage because all

3503-615: The Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti , and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, Forbes ranked it as one of

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3616-731: The Italian Social Republic . Hitler declared it an open city on 3 July 1944 as troops of the British 8th Army closed in. Except for the Ponte Vecchio , in early August, the retreating Germans decided to demolish all the bridges along the Arno linking the district of Oltrarno to the rest of the city, making it difficult for troops of the 8th Army to cross. Florence was liberated by New Zealand , South African and British troops on 4 August 1944 alongside partisans from

3729-510: The Italian language . Thanks especially to the works of the Tuscans Dante , Petrarch and Boccaccio , the Florentine dialect, above all the local dialects, was adopted as the basis for a national literary language. Starting from the late Middle Ages , Florentine money—in the form of the gold florin —financed the development of industry all over Europe, from Britain to Bruges , to Lyon and Hungary . Florentine bankers financed

3842-756: The Medicis in Florence. The fashions of Queen Catherine de' Medici of France were considered amongst the most fashionable in Europe. After a decline in the 17th to mid-20th century, Italy returned to being a leading nation in fashion, and Florence was Italy's fashion capital in the 50s and 60s from the very first high fashion parade at the Sala Bianca of the Pitti Palace in 1952 with names such as Emilio Schuberth , Emilio Pucci , Vincenzo Ferdinandi , Roberto Capucci , Sorelle Fontana , Germana Marucelli , Mila Schön , Fausto Sarli , whilst Milan led

3955-531: The Piazza del Duomo , Via Dante and Corso Buenos Aires are other important shopping streets and squares. Florence is regarded by some as the birthplace and earliest centre of the modern (post World War Two) fashion industry in Italy. The Florentine "soirées" of the early 1950s organized by Giovanni Battista Giorgini were events where several now-famous Italian designers participated in group shows and first garnered international attention. Florence has served as

4068-740: The Prada Gender Discrimination Case . Feminist NGOs and Hong Kong Legislative Council lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan protested in front of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange . On 24 June 2011 the brand was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to raise $ 2.14 billion, but failed to meet expectations reported by AAP on 17 June 2011 and Bloomberg. In 2015, Prada's turnover was 3,551.7 million euros, up 1 percent from 2014, while its gross operating profit fell 16.5 percent to 954.2 million euros. In July 2016, Prada began selling its clothing online through Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa in response to changing consumer preferences and

4181-710: The Tuscan Committee of National Liberation (CTLN). The Allied soldiers who died driving the Germans from Tuscany are buried in cemeteries outside the city (Americans about nine kilometres or 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles south of the city, British and Commonwealth soldiers a few kilometres east of the centre on the right bank of the Arno). At the end of World War II in May 1945, the US Army's Information and Educational Branch

4294-576: The Via Montenapoleone fashion district and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele ( Milan ), Via dei Condotti ( Rome ), and Via de' Tornabuoni (Florence). Italian fashion is dominated by Milan, Rome, and to a lesser extent, Florence, with the former two being included in the top 30 fashion capitals of the world. Nonetheless, there are numerous other cities which play an important role in Italian fashion. In 2014, Milan

4407-444: The urban area of Florence. The Metropolitan Area of Florence, Prato and Pistoia , constituted in 2000 over an area of roughly 4,800 square kilometres (1,850 sq mi), is home to 1.5 million people. Within Florence proper, 46.8% of the population was male in 2007 and 53.2% were female. Minors (children aged 18 and less) totalled 14.10% of the population compared to pensioners, who numbered 25.95 percent. This compares with

4520-546: The "classic Prada handbag" that became an overnight sensation. Although practical and sturdy, its sleek lines and craftsmanship had a luxury that has become the Prada signature. In 1987, Miuccia and Bertelli married. Prada launched its women's ready-to-wear collection in 1988, and the designs came to be known for their dropped waistlines and narrow belts. Prada's popularity increased when the fashion world took notice of its clean lines, opulent fabrics, and basic colors. The logo for

4633-742: The 'Third Italy' in the 1990s, due to the exports of high-quality goods and automobile (especially the Vespa ) and the prosperity and productivity of the Florentine entrepreneurs. Some of these industries even rivalled the traditional industrial districts in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto due to high profits and productivity. In the fourth quarter of 2015, manufacturing increased by 2.4% and exports increased by 7.2%. Leading sectors included mechanical engineering, fashion, pharmaceutics, food and wine. During 2015, permanent employment contracts increased by 48.8 percent, boosted by nationwide tax break. Tourism

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4746-406: The 17th century to the early 20th, Italian fashion lost its importance and lustre and Europe's main trendsetter became France, with the great popularity of French fashion ; this is due to the luxury dresses which were designed for the courtiers of Louis XIV . However, since the 1951–53 fashion soirées held by Giovanni Battista Giorgini in Florence, the " Italian school " started to compete with

4859-518: The 1960s, reminiscent of the original shop, but with a sleek and modern contrast to it. The next big release was a nylon tote. That same year, the house of Prada began expansion across continental Europe and the United States by opening locations in prominent shopping districts within Florence , Paris, Madrid , and New York City. A shoe line was also released in 1984. In 1985 Miuccia released

4972-590: The 2020s. Miuccia Prada and Bertelli, both entering old age, began a transition in leadership to their children in the 2020s, bringing in former Luxottica CEO Andrea Guerra to lead the company for the years during the transition. The house presently sees annual revenue in the billions of Euros, making €4.2 billion in 2022 with profit that same year totaling to €776 million; furthermore, Prada and less so Miu Miu are seen as having very high desirability among consumers across various reports. The company started in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino as Fratelli Prada ,

5085-481: The 6th century and Florence was in turn conquered by Charlemagne in 774 becoming part of the March of Tuscany centred on Lucca . The population began to grow again and commerce prospered. Margrave Hugo chose Florence as his residency instead of Lucca around 1000 AD. The Golden Age of Florentine art began around this time. In 1100, Florence was a " commune ", meaning a city-state. The city's primary resource

5198-676: The CFDA, in 1995 as a "designer of the year" 1996 witnessed the opening of the 18,000 ft² Prada boutique in Manhattan , New York, the largest in the chain at the time. By now the House of Prada operated in 40 locations worldwide, 20 of which were in Japan. The company owned eight factories and subcontracted work from 84 other manufacturers in Italy. Prada's and Bertelli's respective businesses were merged to create Prapar B.V. in 1996. The name, however,

5311-477: The Catholic Church, (Leo X and Clement VII, respectively). Both were generous patrons of the arts, commissioning works like Michelangelo 's Laurentian Library and Medici Chapel in Florence, to name just two. Their reigns coincided with political upheaval in Italy, and thus in 1527, Florentines drove out the Medici for a second time and re-established a theocratic republic on 16 May 1527, (Jesus Christ

5424-539: The English kings during the Hundred Years' War . They similarly financed the papacy, including the construction of their provisional capital of Avignon and, after their return to Rome, the reconstruction and Renaissance embellishment of Rome. Florence was home to the Medici, one of European history's most important noble families. Lorenzo de' Medici was considered a political and cultural mastermind of Italy in

5537-479: The French haute couture , and labels such as Prada and Gucci began to contend with Chanel and Dior . In 2009, according to the Global Language Monitor , Milan , Italy's centre of design , was ranked the top fashion capital of the world, and Rome was ranked fourth, and, although both cities fell in subsequent rankings, in 2011, Florence entered as the 31st world fashion capital. Milan

5650-415: The French " Haute Couture ". Yet, in the 1970s and 80s, Italian fashion started to concentrate on ready-to-wear clothes, such as coats , jackets , trousers , shirts , jeans , jumpers and miniskirts . Milan became more affordable and stylish for shoppers, and Florence was deposed of its position as the Italian fashion capital and replaced by Rome, which grew in importance as a high fashion pole in

5763-862: The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. 1919 – Prada was appointed Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household; as such, it incorporated the House of Savoy's coat of arms and knotted rope design into its logo. 1983 – Retail expansion sees a new boutique opened in Milan, as well as New York, Madrid, London, Paris, and Tokyo. 1991 – Further retail expansion and more boutiques open in New York City, China, and Japan. 2001 – Broadway Epicenter in New York City by OMA opens. 2003 – Tokyo Epicenter by Herzog & de Meuron opens. 2004 – Los Angeles Epicenter by OMA group opens. Restored in 2012. 2008 – A duplex megastore

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5876-434: The Italian average of 18.06 percent (minors) and 19.94 percent (pensioners). The average age of Florence resident is 49 compared to the Italian average of 42. In the five years between 2002 and 2007, the population of Florence grew by 3.22 percent, while Italy as a whole grew by 3.56 percent. The birth rate of Florence is 7.66 births per 1,000 inhabitants compared to the Italian average of 9.45 births. As of 2009 , 87.46% of

5989-455: The Prada fall 2005 runway show. Prada has also featured many actors as models in their menswear shows and campaigns, including Gary Oldman , Adrien Brody , Emile Hirsch and Norman Reedus . Prada's runway music is designed by Frédéric Sanchez . Prada has commissioned architects, most notably Rem Koolhaas and Herzog & de Meuron , to design flagship stores in various locations. 1913 – The original Prada store opened in Milan in inside

6102-584: The Prada label on a cautious expansion, making products hard to come by. In 1992, the high fashion brand Miu Miu , named after Miuccia's nickname, launched. Miu Miu catered to younger consumers and celebrities. By 1993 Prada was awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award for accessories. The first ready-to-wear menswear collection was Spring/Summer 1998. By 1994, sales were at US$ 210 million, with clothing sales accounting for 20% (expected to double in 1995). Prada won another award from

6215-537: The U.S. In 2014, the city had 8.5 million overnight stays. A Euromonitor report indicates that in 2015 the city ranked as the world's 36th most visited in the world, with over 4.95 million arrivals for the year. Tourism brings revenue to Florence, but also creates certain problems. The Ponte Vecchio, The San Lorenzo Market and Santa Maria Novella are plagued by pickpockets. The province of Florence receives roughly 13 million visitors per year and in peak seasons, popular locations may become overcrowded as

6328-658: The United States, Japan, and Europe in 2000. A 30-day supply of cleansing lotion was marketed at the retail price of US$ 100. To help pay off debts of over US$ 850  million, the company planned on listing 30% of the company on the Milan Stock Exchange in June 2001. However, the offering slowed down after a decline in spending on luxury goods in the United States and Japan. In 2001, under the pressure of his bankers, Bertelli sold all of Prada's 25.5% share in Fendi to LVMH. The sale raised only US$ 295 million. By 2006,

6441-419: The centre, damaging many art treasures. Around the city there are tiny placards on the walls noting where the flood waters reached at their highest point. Florence lies in a basin formed by the hills of Careggi , Fiesole , Settignano , Arcetri , Poggio Imperiale and Bellosguardo (Florence). The Arno river , three other minor rivers (Mugnone, Ema and Greve) and some streams flow through it. Florence has

6554-429: The city as their third favourite tourist destination. In 2015, Condé Nast Travel readers voted Florence as the best city in Europe. Studies by Euromonitor International have concluded that cultural and history-oriented tourism is generating significantly increased spending throughout Europe. Florence is believed to have the greatest concentration of art (in proportion to its size) in the world. Thus, cultural tourism

6667-552: The city. International fashion labels also operate shops in Milan, including an Abercrombie & Fitch flagship store. Milan also hosts a fashion week twice a year, just like other international centres such as Paris, London and New York. Milan's main upscale fashion district is the " quadrilatero della moda " (literally, "fashion quadrilateral"), where the city's most prestigious shopping streets ( Via Montenapoleone , Via della Spiga , Via Sant'Andrea , Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia ) are held. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II ,

6780-547: The company for US$ 170 million. A joint venture between Prada and the De Rigo group was also formed that year to produce Prada eyewear. In October 1999, Prada joined with LVMH and beat Gucci to buy a 51% stake in the Rome-based Fendi S.p.A . Prada's share of the purchase (25.5%) was worth US$ 241.5 million out of the reported US$ 520 million total paid by both Prada and LVMH. Prada took on debts of Fendi, as

6893-488: The country thanks to the creations of Valentino , Fendi , Roberto Capucci , Renato Balestra and Gattinoni . Today, Milan and Rome are Italy's fashion capitals, and major international centres for fashion design , competing with other cities such as Tokyo , Los Angeles , London , Paris and New York . Also, other cities such as Venice , Florence, Naples , Vicenza , Bologna , Genoa and Turin are important centres. The country's main shopping districts are

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7006-518: The death of Gian Gastone de' Medici in 1737. The Kingdom of Italy , which was established in 1861, moved its capital from Turin to Florence in 1865, although the capital was moved to Rome in 1871. Florence was established by the Romans in 59 BC as a colony for veteran soldiers and was built in the style of an army camp . Situated along the Via Cassia , the main route between Rome and

7119-590: The demand for ethical products," the company announced in 2019 that fur will be eliminated from the collection and all house brands as of 2020. In February 2020, Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli named the Belgian designer Raf Simons as co-creative director. In August 2020, the fashion house announced it would no longer use kangaroo leather in its products. In 2020, fashion magazine Vanity Teen promoted its Prada Resort 21 campaign. January 2023 saw Prada announce Andrea Guerra as its next CEO; Guerra formerly

7232-860: The district of Solofra ). The Milan Fashion Week takes place twice a year after the London Fashion Week and before the Paris Fashion Week . It is scheduled as the third of the four most important and global international ready-to-wear fashion weeks of the calendar during the so-called fashion month. Dates are determined by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. Some of the locations where fashion shows are held are Milan's Palazzo Reale , Palazzo Serbelloni , Padiglione Visconti, Spazio delle Cavallerizze at Leonardo Da Vinci museum and many others. Another prominent platform for men's collections and new projects in fashion industry

7345-519: The eclipse of Florence's formerly powerful rival Pisa . The growing power of the merchant elite culminated in an anti-aristocratic uprising, led by Giano della Bella , resulting in the Ordinances of Justice which entrenched the power of the elite guilds until the end of the Republic. At the height of demographic expansion around 1325, the urban population may have been as great as 120,000, and

7458-421: The family of founder Mario Prada, the company originally sold imported English animal goods before transitioning to waterproof nylon fabrics in the 1970s under the leadership of Mario's granddaughter, Miuccia Prada and her husband Patrizio Bertelli . By the 1990s, Prada was perceived as a luxury brand, a designation credited to originality in its designs. To further the business, Miuccia Prada founded Miu Miu as

7571-533: The growing business in the United States after working for the house in Asia. He was successful in having the Prada bags prominently displayed in department stores, so that they could become a hit with fashion editors. Prada's continued success was attributed to its "working-class" theme which, Ginia Bellafante at The New York Times Magazine proclaimed, "was becoming chic in the high-tech, IPO-driven early 1990s." Furthermore, now husband and wife, Miuccia and Bertelli led

7684-454: The home of the Italian fashion company Salvatore Ferragamo since 1928. Gianfranco Lotti , Gucci , Roberto Cavalli , Ermanno Scervino , Stefano Ricci, Patrizia Pepe, Enrico Coveri and Emilio Pucci were also founded and most of them are still headquartered in Florence. Other major players in the fashion industry such as Prada and Chanel have large offices and stores in Florence or its outskirts. Florence's main upscale shopping street

7797-663: The international fashion calendar, taking place in Milan often at one of the brand's spaces. 1988 – first womenswear show in Milan 1998 – first menswear show in Milan Resort 2019 was shown in New York City at Prada's New York headquarters. The show was broadcast over screens in Times Square. Previous Prada models include Daria Werbowy , Gemma Ward , Vanessa Axente , Suvi Koponen , Ali Stephens , Vlada Roslyakova and Sasha Pivovarova , who went on to appear in Prada's ad campaigns for six consecutive seasons after opening

7910-506: The label was not as obvious a design element as those on bags from other prominent luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton . It tried to market its lack of prestigious appeal, including of its apparel, by projecting an image of "anti-status" or "inverse snobbery". Prada's originality made it one of the most influential fashion houses, and the brand became a premium status symbol in the 1990s. Sales were reported at L 70 billion, or US$ 31.7 million, in 1998. Patrizio di Marco took charge of

8023-519: The lack of advertising and high prices, but the lines would go on to become her first commercial hit. Next, Miuccia and Bertelli sought out wholesale accounts for the bags in upscale department stores and boutiques worldwide. In 1983, Prada opened a second boutique in the centre of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan's shopping heart, on the site of the previous historic "London House" emporium run by Felice Bellini from 1870 to

8136-488: The late 15th century. Two members of the family were popes in the early 16th century: Leo X and Clement VII . Catherine de' Medici married King Henry II of France and, after his death in 1559, reigned as regent in France. Marie de' Medici married Henry IV of France and gave birth to the future King Louis XIII . The Medici reigned as Grand Dukes of Tuscany , starting with Cosimo I de' Medici in 1569 and ending with

8249-434: The latter company was not doing well financially. These acquisitions elevated Prada to the top of the luxury goods market in Europe. Revenue tripled from that of 1996, to L2 trillion. Despite apparent success, the company was still in debt. The company's merger and purchasing sprees slowed in the 2000s. However, the company signed a loose agreement with Azzedine Alaia . Skincare products in unit doses were introduced in

8362-487: The little socks would be sewn into the shoes in order to prevent further slips. But many fashionistas rightly claimed that the socks, once sewn into the shoes, would be non-washable and would quickly stink and become grey. Consequently, the shoes have never been commercially sold. According to Fortune , Bertelli planned on increasing revenue of the company to US$ 5 billion by 2010. On 6 May 2011 Hong Kong Stock Exchange came under fire for approving Prada's IPO despite

8475-468: The lowest was −23.2 °C (−9.8 °F) on 12 January 1985. In 1200 the city was home to 50,000 people. By 1300 the population of the city proper was 120,000, with an additional 300,000 living in the Contado . Between 1500 and 1650 the population was around 70,000. As of 31 October 2010 , the population of the city proper is 370,702, while Eurostat estimates that 696,767 people live in

8588-550: The main line of Ralph Lauren ) also rely on Italian craft factories, located in highly specialized areas in the metropolitan area of Naples and in the centre-north of Italy ( Tuscany , Marche , Veneto and Piedmont ), to produce parts of their apparel and accessories. The nonprofit association that co-ordinates and promotes the development of Italian fashion is the National Chamber of Italian Fashion (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana), now led by Carlo Capasa . It

8701-431: The models on the catwalk were tottering – several of them stumbled, while two models fell down in front of the photographers and had to be helped by spectators to get up. They removed their shoes in order to continue their walk. One more model ( Sigrid Agren ) even had to stop and go back during the finale walk as she couldn't manage walking in her high heels any longer. Interviewed right after the show, one model declared: "I

8814-1441: The most beautiful cities in the world in 2010. Florence plays an important role in Italian fashion , and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world by Global Language Monitor ; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. Firenze comes from Florentiae , locative form of Florentia , in turn a name conveying good luck, from Latin : florēre , lit.   'to blossom'.   Roman Republic , 59–27 BC   Roman Empire , 27 BC–AD 285   Western Roman Empire , 285–476   Kingdom of Odoacer , 476–493   Ostrogothic Kingdom , 493–553   Eastern Roman Empire , 553–568   Lombard Kingdom , 570–773   Carolingian Empire , 774–797   Regnum Italiae , 797–1001   March of Tuscany , 1002–1115 [REDACTED] Republic of Florence , 1115–1532 [REDACTED] Duchy of Florence , 1532–1569 [REDACTED] Grand Duchy of Tuscany , 1569–1801 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Etruria , 1801–1807 [REDACTED] First French Empire , 1807–1815 [REDACTED] Grand Duchy of Tuscany , 1815–1859 [REDACTED] United Provinces of Central Italy , 1859–1860 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Italy , 1861–1943 [REDACTED]   Italian Social Republic , 1943–1945 [REDACTED]   Italy , 1946–present Florence originated as

8927-671: The most fashionable in Europe since the 11th century, and powerful cities of the time, such as Venice , Milan , Florence , Naples , Vicenza and Rome began to produce robes , jewelry , textiles , shoes , fabrics , ornaments and elaborate dresses . Italian fashion reached its peak during the Renaissance . As Italy is widely recognized as the cradle and birthplace of the Renaissance, art, music, education, finance and philosophy flourished, and along with it, Italian fashion designs became very popular especially those worn by

9040-557: The most important luxury houses which focus only on menswear and accessories for men are Brioni , Canali , Corneliani , Lardini , Stefano Ricci , Zegna (directed by Alessandro Sartori ) and Pal Zileri . Luxury sportswear and streetwear have become general fashion trends, mixing high and low, formal and active style in one look and also in this segment Italy, apart from big luxury brands focused on ready to wear (or couture) developing their own streetstyle lines or items such as Gucci , Fendi , Moschino and Prada or top brands with

9153-464: The need to reach a wider audience. This strategic move allowed Prada to tap into e-commerce expertise, reduce overhead costs, and adapt to the digital age while maintaining its luxury brand image.. As of March 2018, Prada's sales turned positive after declining since 2014, and their stock jumped 14% at the news. Stating that Prada would be "(f)ocusing on innovative materials will allow the company to explore new boundaries of creative design while meeting

9266-529: The north, and within the fertile valley of the Arno , the settlement quickly became an important commercial centre and in AD 285 became the capital of the Tuscia region. In centuries to come, the city experienced turbulent alternate periods of Ostrogoth and Byzantine rule, during which the city was fought over, helping to cause the population to fall to as low as 1,000 people. Peace returned under Lombard rule in

9379-426: The number of visitors had increased by 5.5% from the previous year. In 2013, Florence was listed as the second best world city by Condé Nast Traveler . Manufacturing and commerce remain highly important. Florence is Italy's 17th richest city in terms of average workers' earnings, with the figure being €23,265 (the overall city's income is €6,531,204,473), coming after Mantua , yet surpassing Bolzano . Florence

9492-508: The population belonging to the Archdiocese of Florence . As of 2016, an estimated 30,000 people, or 8% of the population, identified as Muslim. Foreign-born population (31.12.2019) Tourism is, by far, the most important of all industries and most of the Florentine economy relies on the money generated by international arrivals and students studying in the city. The value tourism to the city totalled some €2.5 billion in 2015 and

9605-462: The population was Italian. An estimated 6,000 Chinese live in the city. The largest immigrant group came from other European countries (mostly Romanians and Albanians ): 3.52%, East Asia (mostly Chinese and Filipino ): 2.17%, the Americas: 1.41%, and North Africa (mostly Moroccan ): 0.9%. Much like the rest of Italy most of the people in Florence are Roman Catholic , with more than 90% of

9718-550: The powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy . The Florentine dialect forms the base of standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri , Petrarch , Giovanni Boccaccio , Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini . The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and UNESCO declared

9831-409: The present name) was significantly widened and a large triumphal arch was constructed at the west end. A museum recording the destruction stands nearby today. The country's second capital city was superseded by Rome six years later, after the withdrawal of the French troops allowed the capture of Rome . During World War II the city experienced a year-long German occupation (1943–1944) being part of

9944-443: The production of leather goods such as accessories, especially belts or shoes (but not only), are Anderson's, Aquazzura, Baldinini , Ballin, Bontoni , Casadei, Rene Caovilla , Bruno Magli , Paciotti , Pollini , Gianvito Rossi, Sergio Rossi , Giuseppe Zanotti , while fashion brands or labels which produce primarily bags, totes, suitcases are Braccialini , Furla , Mandarina Duck , Piquadro , Serapian and Valextra . Italy also

10057-437: The relationship between fashion and desire. Since then Prada has been regarded as one of the most intelligent and conceptual designers. In 1997, Prada posted revenue of US$ 674 million. Another store in Milan opened that same year. According to The Wall Street Journal , Bertelli smashed the windows of the store a day before the opening, after he had become deeply unsatisfied with the set-up. Bertelli also acquired shares in

10170-522: The rural population around the city was probably close to 300,000. The Black Death of 1348 reduced it by over half, about 25,000 are said to have been supported by the city's wool industry: in 1345 Florence was the scene of an attempted strike by wool combers ( ciompi ), who in 1378 rose up in a brief revolt against oligarchic rule in the Revolt of the Ciompi . After their suppression, Florence came under

10283-643: The size of the French army at the gates of Pisa, he had to accept the humiliating conditions of the French king. These made the Florentines rebel, and they expelled Piero II. With his exile in 1494, the first period of Medici rule ended with the restoration of a republican government. During this period, the Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola had become prior of the San Marco monastery in 1490. He

10396-481: The sway (1382–1434) of the Albizzi family, who became bitter rivals of the Medici. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest cities in Europe, with a population of 60,000, and was considered rich and economically successful. Cosimo de' Medici was the first Medici family member to essentially control the city from behind the scenes. Although the city was technically a democracy of sorts, his power came from

10509-413: The way in the 70s and 80s, with then-new labels and designers such as Walter Albini , Armani , Enrico Coveri , Dolce & Gabbana , Gianfranco Ferré , Romeo Gigli , Krizia , Missoni , Moschino , Luciano Soprani , Trussardi and Versace and opening up and setting up their first boutiques and emporia. Until the 1970s, Italian fashion was mainly designed for the rich and famous, more or less like

10622-592: The world, according to the 2009 Global Language Monitor after Milan , New York and Paris, and beating London. Major Italian luxury fashion houses and jewelry chains, such as Valentino , Bulgari , Fendi , Laura Biagiotti , Gattinoni and Brioni , just to name a few, are headquartered in or were founded in the city. Also, other major labels, such as Chanel , Prada , Dolce & Gabbana , Armani and Versace have luxury boutiques in Rome, primarily along its prestigious and upscale Via dei Condotti . Rome Fashion Week

10735-560: Was CEO of both Luxottica and Eataly , and later the leader of LVMH 's hotel division. Guerra was onboarded to ease the transition between the Bertelli and his children, who are expected to inherit the company. One of Guerra's first moves was to look at dual listing Prada stock on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as well as on a European stock exchange, expected to be one in Milan. Prada hosts seasonal runway shows on

10848-437: Was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered by many academics to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance , becoming a major artistic, cultural, commercial, political, economic and financial center. During this time, Florence rose to a position of enormous influence in Italy, Europe, and beyond. Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by

10961-403: Was allowed time to implement her creativity in the company's designs. She would go on to incorporate her ideas into the house of Prada that would change it. She released her first set of backpacks and totes in 1979. They were made out of a tough military spec black nylon that her grandfather had used as coverings for steamer trunks. Initial success was not instant, as they were hard to sell due to

11074-547: Was an accomplished poet and musician and brought composers and singers to Florence, including Alexander Agricola , Johannes Ghiselin , and Heinrich Isaac . By contemporary Florentines (and since), he was known as "Lorenzo the Magnificent" (Lorenzo il Magnifico). Following Lorenzo de' Medici's death in 1492, he was succeeded by his son Piero II . When the French king Charles VIII invaded northern Italy , Piero II chose to resist his army. But when he realised

11187-511: Was artistic director at Mugler , Nino Cerruti founded his own Paris-based fashion house, Giambattista Valli 's main ready to wear and high fashion lines are set in Paris and Stefano Pilati was for almost eight years Saint Laurent 's head designer. Among the newest labels or younger designers, the most prominent are Calcaterra, Del Core, Golden Goose Deluxe Brand , Stella Jean and The Attico . Other luxury labels which are mainly focused on

11300-450: Was excommunicated. The Florentines, tired of his teachings, turned against him and arrested him. He was convicted as a heretic, hanged and burned on the Piazza della Signoria on 23 May 1498. His ashes were dispersed in the Arno river. Another Florentine of this period was Niccolò Machiavelli , whose prescriptions for Florence's regeneration under strong leadership have often been seen as

11413-449: Was famed for his penitential sermons, lambasting what he viewed as widespread immorality and attachment to material riches. He praised the exile of the Medici as the work of God, punishing them for their decadence. He seized the opportunity to carry through political reforms leading to a more democratic rule. But when Savonarola publicly accused Pope Alexander VI of corruption, he was banned from speaking in public. When he broke this ban, he

11526-400: Was having a panic attack, my hands were shaking. The heels were so high." The designer Miuccia Prada , on her side, did not blame the height of the shoes, but the silk little socks inside, which were slippery and moved inside of the shoes, preventing the models' feet from having a correct grip on the sole. Miuccia Prada also assured that the shoes sold in stores would have a lower heel, and that

11639-449: Was later changed to Prada B.V., and Patrizio Bertelli was named Chief Executive Officer of the Prada luxury company. 1996 can also be seen as marking an important turning point in Prada's aesthetics, one that fueled the brand's worldwide reputation. Journalists praised Miuccia's development of an “ugly chic” style, which initially confused customers by offering blatantly unsexy outfits which then revealed to offer daring and original takes on

11752-525: Was named Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569; in all Tuscany, only the Republic of Lucca (later a Duchy ) and the Principality of Piombino were independent from Florence. The extinction of the Medici dynasty and the accession in 1737 of Francis Stephen , duke of Lorraine and husband of Maria Theresa of Austria , led to Tuscany's temporary inclusion in the territories of the Austrian crown. It became

11865-440: Was named British Burberry 's creative director until 2022, Maria Grazia Chiuri after co-heading at Valentino together with Pier Paolo Piccioli now is the first female creative director ever at Dior , French fashion brand Rochas had been directed by Alessandro Dell'Acqua for a few years and now by Alessandro Vigilante, Marco Colagrossi heads Ungaro after a few years under the directorship of Fausto Puglisi, Nicola Formichetti

11978-518: Was named King of Florence). The Medici returned to power in Florence in 1530, with the armies of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the blessings of Pope Clement VII (Giulio de' Medici). Florence officially became a monarchy in 1531, when Emperor Charles and Pope Clement named Alessandro de' Medici as Duke of the Florentine Republic . The Medici's monarchy would last over two centuries. Alessandro's successor, Cosimo I de' Medici ,

12091-571: Was opened in Kuala Lumpur at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur . Italian fashion#Italian fashion houses, designers and luxury brands Italian fashion became prominent during the 11th to 16th centuries, when artistic development in Italy was at its peak. Cities such as Rome , Palermo , Venice , Milan , Naples , Florence and Vicenza started to produce luxury goods , hats , cosmetics , jewelry and rich fabrics . From

12204-463: Was ordered to establish an overseas university campus for demobilised American service men and women in Florence. The first American university for service personnel was established in June 1945 at the School of Aeronautics. Some 7,500 soldier-students were to pass through the university during its four one-month sessions (see G. I. American Universities ). In November 1966, the Arno flooded parts of

12317-469: Was regarded as the world fashion capital (based upon frequency of mention in global media outlets), even surpassing New York , Paris , Rome and London . In 2011, Milan was ranked #4, behind London, New York, and Paris. Many of the major Italian fashion brands, such as Valentino , Versace , Prada , Armani , Dolce & Gabbana , Marni , Iceberg, Missoni , Trussardi , Moschino , Dirk Bikkembergs , Etro , and Zegna are currently headquartered in

12430-603: Was restored on the throne of Tuscany at the Congress of Vienna but finally deposed in 1859. Tuscany became a region of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Florence replaced Turin as Italy's capital in 1865 and, in an effort to modernise the city, the old market in the Piazza del Mercato Vecchio and many medieval houses were pulled down and replaced by a more formal street plan with newer houses. The Piazza (first renamed Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II , then Piazza della Repubblica ,

12543-1248: Was set up in 1958 in Rome, is now settled in Milan and represents all the highest cultural values of Italian fashion. This association has pursued a policy of organisational support aimed at the knowledge, promotion and development of fashion through high-profile events in Italy and abroad. The talent of young, creative fashion is also promoted in Italy, as in the annual ITS ( International Talent Support Awards) young fashion designer competition in Trieste . Examples of major Italian fashion houses focused on both menswear and womenswear, but also accessories: Examples of major fashion brands which are specialized mainly at womenswear (and also accessories for women) are Laura Biagiotti , Blumarine (founded by Anna Molinari ), Capucci , Chiara Boni , Alberta Ferretti , Gattinoni , Genny (designed by Sara Cavazza Facchini), Giamba (created by designer Giambattista Valli), Krizia (founded by Mariuccia Mandelli and now art directored by Zhu Chongyun), La Perla , Luisa Spagnoli , Max Mara (created by Ian Griffiths), Miu Miu (founded and directed by Miuccia Prada ), Philosophy (directed by Lorenzo Serafini ), Mila Schon and Twin-set Milano whilst

12656-492: Was the Arno river , providing power and access for the industry (mainly textile industry), and access to the Mediterranean sea for international trade, helping the growth of an industrious merchant community. The Florentine merchant banking skills became recognised in Europe after they brought decisive financial innovation (e.g. bills of exchange , double-entry bookkeeping system ) to medieval fairs. This period also saw

12769-478: Was worth about US$ 100 million. Months later, Prada paid US$ 105 million to have full control of Jil Sander A.G., a German-based company with annual revenue of US$ 100 million. The purchase gained Prada a foothold in Germany, and months later Jil Sander resigned as chairwoman of her namesake company. Church & Company , an English shoemaker, also came under the control of Prada, when Prada bought 83% of

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