Culture - 1/22/24
A new series of Prada pop-up installations debuts at Galeries Lafayette in Paris on January 15, 2024, before moving on to various cities worldwide.
Prada is commemorating a unique turning point in its creative journey, 1978, when the arrival of its legendary range of nylon accessories changed the language of fashion forever.
To mark the occasion, the brand is launching a series of exclusive pop-up stores and reissuing ‘Prada a Milano, the limited-edition book produced in the late 1980s by renowned photographer Albert Watson. The book juxtaposes Miuccia Prada’s diverse obsessions: leather goods, historical objects from her grandfather’s collections, and ephemera from the early days of the Fratelli Prada, all set against the backdrop of late-twentieth century industrial Milan and the gritty textures of daily life. The majestic black-and-white photographs in this volume, which give the subjects an almost monumental character, are the lynchpin of the project, also playing a crucial role in the furnishing of the spaces.
The concept makes its first appearance from January 15 to February 20 at Galeries Lafayette in Paris with a special window display and three pop-up stores, one for men and two for women.
‘Mogador’ and ‘Lafayette’, the two pop-ups dedicated to women’s Re-Nylon products and featuring special reissues of design pieces from the era, showcase the items in a distinctive ‘Prada niche’ decorated with backlit Albert Watson images. A black-and-white chequered marble floor evokes the first ever Prada shop in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, while the columns marking the edges of the space are clad in satin-finish steel, emphasised by vertical strips of light and dominated by a three-dimensional and glowing version of the original 1978 Prada logo. The chequered floor and the bespoke niche also return in the Atrium, the space dedicated to men’s items, where a spectacular full-height lantern made by combining illuminated Prada triangles immediately captivates the attention of clients. The same stylistic features appear outside the department store: a series of windows display backlit versions of Watson’s shots like pages of his book, combining to create an extraordinarily powerful visual effect, and the walkway between the two buildings revisits the pattern on the columns inside and features a version of the logo made from pure light.
The product selection includes a series of unmistakable designs. Re-Nylon women’s bags and accessories are embellished with Saffiano leather details as well as an enamelled metal triangle logo and come in myriad shapes and functions, from totes and backpacks to duffle bags and cross-body bags. Colours range from classic black and blue to cork beige and camel brown, as well as floral-inspired pastel hues for the bucket hats and tricks. For men, multi-pocket backpacks and belt bags sit alongside spacious travel bags, trolley bags, soft suitcases, trunks and hard cases, all in pure black, with only occasional concessions to a stylish tundra hue. The baseball caps and bucket hats, small accessories and garments follow the same themes. Re-Nylon appears on down jackets, coats and overshirts as well as shirts and trousers, paired with poplin shirts, sophisticated cashmere knitwear and jersey sweaters.
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