The Italian fashion house founded in Milan in 1913 by Mario Prada was Prada. It began as Fratelli Prada, a luxury leather-goods business established by Mario Prada and his brother Martino. Its early shop in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II sold imported English trunks, handbags, travel goods, jewelry, and other finely made items.
In 1919, Prada became an official supplier to the Italian royal household, a distinction reflected in elements of its historic branding. Mario’s daughter Luisa later ran the company, and his granddaughter Miuccia Prada joined the business in 1970 before taking control in 1978.
Miuccia transformed Prada’s direction, notably by using durable Pocono nylon for fashion bags and backpacks. The brand expanded into women’s ready-to-wear in 1988 and men’s collections in the 1990s. A common mix-up is confusing Prada with Miu Miu: Miuccia Prada founded Miu Miu as a separate Prada subsidiary in the 1990s.