Miuccia Prada took over the family leather-goods business in 1978.
Mario Prada founded the company in Milan in 1913, and it initially specialized in luxury travel goods, handbags, and leather accessories. When Miuccia Prada joined the business, she brought a different creative direction and helped move it toward modern fashion.
Her partnership with entrepreneur Patrizio Bertelli supported the expansion of Prada from a traditional accessories company into an international fashion house. Nylon bags, minimalist designs, and a deliberately intellectual approach to luxury became central to Prada’s identity during the 1980s and 1990s.
The dates can be confused because Prada’s founding belongs to Mario Prada in 1913, while Miuccia’s leadership began in 1978. The company’s first ready-to-wear collection appeared later, in 1988, marking another important stage in its development.