Prada acquired the German fashion brand Jil Sander in 1999.
Prada Group bought a 75 percent share in Jil Sander’s company during the late-1990s luxury consolidation wave. Reports put the price at more than US$100 million, giving Prada a major foothold in Germany and adding a label celebrated for precise, minimalist clothing and refined tailoring.
Jil Sander remained chairwoman and creative director after the deal, but the partnership soon became strained. She left the company roughly six months later after disagreements with Prada chief executive Patrizio Bertelli. Her departure was followed by the exit of much of the design and production staff, creating serious creative and financial difficulties for the brand.
The ownership history can cause confusion because Prada later sold Jil Sander to Change Capital Partners in 2006. That was the divestment date, not the acquisition date. After further changes in ownership, OTB Group acquired the brand in 2021.