Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, Herzog & de Meuron and Rem Koolhaas on the catwalk for Prada

“Prada Invites” is the name of the latest initiative of the Italian fashion brand that has never really hidden its interest in the world of design (from the window system by Martino Gamper to fashion shows designed by AMO and even the recent restoration of the historic Rong Zhai building in Shanghai in collaboration with the architect Roberto Baciocchi).

For the first time ever, the fashion house from Milan has invited 4 famous designers to work on a special material – Prada’s celebrated Black Nylon – and will create the ideas proposed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, Herzog & de Meuron and Rem Koolhaas without any interference.

Konstantin Grcic was inspired by Joseph Beuys’s vest in designing a functional apron plus two other cargo garments that can contain various objects while becoming an integral part of the body itself. Herzog & de Meuron created a T-shirt, a shirt and a coat, to be worn in layers, with intentionally minimal decoration (essentiality is a constant throughout the show). The inspiration derives from our society under continuous control: that’s why images of people spied on from above are printed inside the coat while the T-shirt and shirt bear words – highlighting the power of this tool that has lost its way. The portfolio case by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec is called a “container of ideas” and comes with handy pockets in different sizes (even a small document holder). Finally, there’s the chest backpack by Rem Koolhaas: it’s a rigid volume, with straps that cross on the back and white lining (the lettering is also by OMA). 

A comeback of industrial styles for the brand, also highlighted by the Prada Uomo F/W 2018 fashion show held on 14 January in Milan, which presented this new collaboration. The installation by AMO for the fashion show transformed the brand’s storage areas into a surreal warehouse evoking this essential and functional quality: Prada Warehouse.