Miuccia Prada
Born 1949 · Age 77
Italian fashion designer and businesswoman; head designer of Prada and founder of Miu Miu; longtime creative force behind the Prada Group and collector/ patron of contemporary art.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born Maria Bianchi in Milan
Born Maria Bianchi in Milan, Italy; youngest granddaughter of Mario Prada.
Likely graduated Liceo Classico Berchet (approx.)
Attended Liceo Classico Berchet high school in Milan; approximate graduation year based on typical schooling timeline.
Joined family business (Britannica account)
Per Britannica, joined the Prada family business in 1970 and managed one of the company's two remaining stores.
BA in Political Science, University of Milan
Graduated from the University of Milan with a degree in political science; concurrently studied acting at Piccolo Teatro in Milan.
Began mime/acting training at Teatro Piccolo
Started studying acting/mime at Milan's Piccolo Teatro; trained and performed as a mime for about five years.
PhD in Political Science (Britannica date)
According to Britannica, completed a PhD in political science in 1973 at the University of Milan (conflicts with other sources).
Entry into family business (general / Wikipedia: mid-1970s)
Other sources state she entered the family's leather-goods business by the mid-1970s and began overseeing accessories design.
PhD in Political Science (Wikipedia date)
According to Wikipedia and some accounts, obtained a PhD in political science in 1978 at the University of Milan (source conflict with 1973).
Met Patrizio Bertelli
Met leather-goods manufacturer Patrizio Bertelli, who would become her business partner and husband.
Took over family business (became head)
Succeeded her mother / took over control of the family-owned luxury goods manufacturer (sources cite 1978).
Reported marriage to Patrizio Bertelli (Wikipedia infobox claim)
Some sources/infobox state Miuccia Prada married Patrizio Bertelli in 1978 (there is a conflicting date in other sources).
Early Pocono nylon handbag line launched (initial launch)
Launched an initial line of unlabeled Pocono nylon handbags (durable tent-like fabric) — initially not immediately successful per Britannica.
Adopted by aunt / changed surname to Prada (1980s)
In the 1980s she took the name Miuccia Prada after being adopted by an aunt (exact year unclear; described as 'in the 1980s' / 'late 1980s').
Began international store expansion (from 1983)
Prada opened additional stores beginning in 1983 as part of early global expansion.
Launched Prada shoe line
Expanded product range by launching shoes (1984 cited in Britannica).
Relaunched nylon handbag with signature logo (success)
Relaunched the Pocono black nylon handbag redesigned with a gold chain strap and the triangular Prada logo; became widely successful and a signature Prada item.
Reported marriage to Patrizio Bertelli (Britannica claim)
Britannica states she wed Patrizio Bertelli in 1987; there is a discrepancy between sources on the marriage year.
Debut women's ready-to-wear collection (Britannica: 1988)
According to Britannica, debuted her first ready-to-wear women's collection to critical acclaim in 1988 (some sources list 1989).
Birth of elder son (Lorenzo Bertelli)
Eldest son born in 1988; later became a rally driver and took on management roles within the company.
Introduced first women's ready-to-wear collection (Wikipedia: 1989)
Wikipedia cites 1989 as the year she designed and introduced her first women's ready-to-wear collection (source discrepancy with 1988).
Introduced Miu Miu (Wikipedia date)
Wikipedia cites 1992 as the introduction of Miu Miu, a less expensive womenswear line named after her nickname.
Founded PradaMilanoarte / Prada Foundation
Founded PradaMilanoarte (later Fondazione Prada), a nonprofit devoted to contemporary art, architecture and culture.
Launch of Miu Miu (alternate sources cite 1993)
Some sources (BoF / Britannica variations) place the launch/introduction of Miu Miu in 1993 (source discrepancy with 1992).
Launched menswear line (Britannica/1993 claim)
Britannica states Prada launched a menswear line in 1993 (some other sources list 1995).
Showed collections in New York and London (1994)
Prada presented collections on both New York and London Fashion Weeks in addition to Milan (expanded international presence).
Launched first formal menswear line (Wikipedia/1995)
Wikipedia and other sources cite 1995 as the launch year of her first formal menswear collection (source discrepancy exists).
Merged operations to form Prapar BV / Prada SpA
Prada and Patrizio Bertelli formally merged operations into a holding company (Prapar BV, later Prada SpA), consolidating group structure.
Launched Prada Sport (Prada Sport / Linea Rossa)
Released an activewear sports line (Prada Sport), later renamed Linea Rossa (Red Line).
Began series of acquisitions (late 1990s)
In the late 1990s Prada and Bertelli began acquiring stakes/brands (string of acquisitions across 1997–1999).
Reported stake/acquisitions activity including Fendi (circa 1998)
Sources mention Prada Group acquiring stakes in several fashion houses including a reported stake in Fendi around this period (exact details vary).
Acquired Church's shoemaker (reported Sept 1999)
Prada bought UK shoemaker Church's (WSJ reported 10 September 1999) as part of a push into luxury footwear.
Bought control of Jil Sander (31 Aug 1999 reported)
Prada Group moved to acquire control of Jil Sander (NYTimes reported 31 Aug 1999).
Launched cosmetics line (2000)
The Prada Group launched a cosmetics line around 2000.
Opened Prada ‘Epicenter’ store in New York (Rem Koolhaas)
Opened the architect-designed flagship 'Epicenter' retail experience in New York (Rem Koolhaas collaboration), pioneering experiential retail (NY 2001).
Opened contemporary art museum (Prada Foundation / museum)
Reported opening of Prada's contemporary art museum (Prada Foundation activities and museum projects are concentrated in this era).
Opened Epicenter store in Tokyo (2003)
Opened the architect-designed Epicenter retail space in Tokyo (Herzog & de Meuron / design partnership timeline).
Helmut Lang transaction / buyout activity (2004)
Prada Group activity around Helmut Lang intensified; British Vogue reported 'Prada buys Lang out' in October 2004 (acquisition/ownership changes).
Received CFDA International Award (2004)
Awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award (1993 and again noted in 2004 lists).
Named in Time's 100 Most Influential People (2005)
Included in Time magazine's Time 100 list of most influential people (2005).
Designed costumes for Met Opera's 'Attila' (2010)
Designed costumes for the Verdi opera 'Attila' at New York's Metropolitan Opera House (production debut 2010).
McKim Medal Laureate / American Academy honors (2010 mention)
Biography notes she was named McKim Medal Laureate (for achievements in fashion and business) in 2010.
Prada Group IPO in Hong Kong (raised approx. $2.1B)
Prada SpA completed an initial public offering in Hong Kong that raised about $2.1 billion (2011).
Metropolitan Museum exhibition 'Impossible Conversations' (2012)
New York's Met showcased an exhibition pairing Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli in 'Impossible Conversations' (2012).
International Designer of the Year (British Fashion Awards 2013)
Awarded International Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards (2013).
Named one of 50 best dressed over-50s (Forbes, Mar 2013)
Forbes named her among the 50 best dressed women over 50 (March 2013 list).
Listed 75th most powerful woman (Forbes 2014) and net worth cited
Forbes listed Prada as the 75th most powerful woman in 2014 and estimated her net worth at $11.1 billion.
Became Co-CEO of Prada (joined husband Patrizio Bertelli as co-CEO)
In 2014 Prada stepped into the formal role of co-CEO of Prada alongside her husband (British Vogue reported in Feb 2014).
Tax avoidance probe reported (early 2014 investigation)
Prada and Patrizio Bertelli were reported to be under investigation by Milan prosecutors for alleged tax avoidance (early 2014).
WSJ Magazine Fashion Innovator of the Year (2015)
Named Fashion Innovator of the Year by WSJ Magazine (2015).
Knight Grand Cross, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (21 Dec 2015)
Received Italy's highest honorary title: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Paid over €400M to settle tax positions (2016)
By 2016 Prada and Bertelli reportedly paid more than €400 million (~$429M) to settle tax issues with prosecutors.
Glamour USA Woman of the Year Award (2016)
Received the Woman of the Year Award from Glamour USA (2016).
Outstanding Achievement Award, British Fashion Council (2018)
Awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the British Fashion Council at The Fashion Awards 2018.
Lorenzo Bertelli steps into executive role (2018 reporting)
Reports (Bloomberg, 2018) note Lorenzo Bertelli, her elder son, stepping into management/executive roles within Prada Group.
Presented final collection as sole creative director (2020)
In 2020 Prada presented what was described as her final collection as sole creative director; due to COVID-19 it was unveiled via a series of short films by various artists.
Appointed Raf Simons as co-creative director (Feb 2020)
In February 2020, Prada announced Raf Simons would work alongside Miuccia Prada as co-creative director with equal responsibilities.
John B. Fairchild Honor for Lifetime Achievement by WWD (2021)
WWD magazine honored Miuccia Prada with the John B. Fairchild Honor for Lifetime Achievement (2021).
Bloomberg net worth estimate: $6.6B (Aug 2021)
Bloomberg estimated Miuccia Prada's net worth at $6.6 billion in August 2021, ranking her 430th in the world.
Forbes net worth estimate: $4.8B (Oct 2021)
Forbes estimated her net worth at $4.8 billion in October 2021.
Prada Group reports best year; Miu Miu sales surge (2023)
Business of Fashion coverage (March–July 2023) highlighted record strength and 'Prada’s best year' with Miu Miu reporting double-digit growth following the Prada–Raf Simons collaboration.
Ongoing leadership and design legacy (coverage continues)
Media continues to profile Prada's role as co-creative director and the group's strategic shifts, reporting management transitions and design leadership changes.
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