Prada – Multiple Views – Spring 2021
One last time. One single message delivered by Miuccia Prada was interpreted by five artists. For her final collection as the only creative director of the brand, Mrs. Prada explored the everlasting power of simplicity.
The different views offered by artists such as Terence Nance, Joanna Piotrowska, Martine Syms, Juergen Teller, and Willy Vanderperre resulted in five short videos – chapters of the same story – each one with different elements, congruent but individually defined. An impossible conversation made possible by technology and creativity in difficult times.
It also reflected the reality of this Prada digital presentation: an event seemingly divergent but again seen by many, this time in their own environments, their own time, their own worlds.
It embraced and celebrated multiplicity – when people cannot physically connect, we can establish a different type of community, united through ideas, goals, and beliefs.
“I think that our job as fashion designers is to create clothes for people, that is the honesty of it. That is really the value of our job — to create beautiful, intelligent clothes. This season, we focused on that idea: it is about clothes, about giving value to pieces,”
A stimulating collection of essentials, that seamlessly united functionality and sophistication. Attention is drawn back to clothes – simple pieces, with use and value, longevity, and a place within people’s lives. As times become increasingly complex, clothes become straightforward, unostentatious, machines for living, and tools for action and activity.
The collection focuses on the quintessence of Prada, the meaning. How clothes are worn, where, and why. Often, their meanings are compound and multiplex: simultaneously speaking of sportswear and formality, of classicism and futurism, pieces are paradoxes, situated in multiple worlds – just as their debut here is not only framed by the eye of Prada, but by an array of creatives.
The silhouette for men is sharply cut and narrow, fitted, with technologically innovative fabrications of the famous Prada nylon and stretch materials contrasted with traditional suiting. Outerwear paired with pristine white shirts. Heavy leather jackets juxtaposed with sweatpants. 1990 vs. 1960. Then the reverse: industrial outfits in classic fabrications and true sportswear, drawn from the technically innovative Linea Rossa.
We feel like we found an antidote to useless complication. A dress shirt and black tie tucked in grey sweatpants? Nothing screams zeitgeist louder than that. We are using that look for our next Zoom meeting.
The contradiction is celebrated: in apparent fragility can be found strength, through rigor joy. Pure and simple, a great collection that gave us a sense of enjoyment, energy, and fun.
The Gallery
Prada – Multiple Views SS21 – 15 – Dapper Tapper
Prada – Multiple Views SS21 – 09 – Dapper Tapper
Prada – Multiple Views SS21 – 10 – Dapper Tapper
