Innovation Heads East in 2017

After reviewing my past blogs and doing additional research, my final forecast for  Prada in 2017 is an increase in sales with the implementation of the Innovation Heads East concept. Essentially, this concept is a value in which the brand was built upon but like they always say," if it's not broke, don't fix it."

The Prada brand got its start in 1913 when Mario Prada and his brother Martino Prada opened a small  luxury goods store aptly called Fratelli Prada in Milan, Italy. Products sold at this fine establishment included steamer trunks and handbags imported from England, walking canes, vanity cases, tortoiseshell hairbrushes and other unique accessories. An innovator at the time, the shop drew in many major consumers such as European aristocracy and the Italian royal family who actually made them suppliers and allowed the shop to use the Savoy family coat of arms and knotted rope design in their logo.

                                                            

Who knew that one day such a fine company would fall into the hands of Miuccia Bianachi, an aspiring politician who had spent the past several years studying to be a mime and who also happened to be Mario's granddaughter. While it was with her unique background, aversion to anything fashion, and a natural talent for creating trends before they existed that she managed to turn this family owned business into a billion dollar worldwide luxury brand as it is known today. Of course her husband and CEO Patricio Bertelli with his sharp business sense had a hand in the turn around as well.

As far as the company goes in 2017, I think the best bet would be for Miuccia to remain as Creative Director and Patrizio as CEO because their dynamic together (his business smarts and her unusual natural creative ability) has provided a lot of success for the Prada brand. Having their sons, Lorenzo and Guilio, come into the company maybe starting off small to learn the workings of the company would be an idea. That way, when Miuccia and her husband do decide to retire, the brand will be left in good hands. 

Focusing on the innovative concept that has transformed Prada into a worldwide sensation is the best option for future success. Manufacturing and expansion should be focused in China since that is a major growing luxury market and once those connections are set, further expansion in Asia will be the next step.

In the Spring 2013 RTW collection you can clearly see the innovative use of contrasting details, fabrics, and textures with the Asian influence. Prada is definitely moving in the right direction.

Feeling the Inspiration

Touch is one of our most important senses, both as observers and creators of fashion. Textures of garments really affect the overall impact those pieces exude and how we view them. A rough texture can make a garment appear more severe yet make it in a softer texture and the garment gives off a more feminine appeal.

For Prada's Spring 2013 RTW collection, the texture truly impacted the effect of the garments. The whole concept of the collection was the struggle between being strong and being feminine, a struggle which women find themseleves constantly  trying to find the balance for. Creating the pieces in smooth satin fabrics cut into structured shapes gave the garments a sense of severe yet feminine strength.

The textures Prada utilized in the collection could have been  inspired by many different areas of influence such as nature, art, home decor, and architecture.Here's my take on what could have inspired such an unconventional combination of textures used in Ms. Prada's collection:

SATIN SMOOTH

Satin Bower Bird

Satin Ribbon

Masu Box

Sandal Flatforms 

The smooth texture of the satin can be seen clearly on the runway with the way the lights reflect off the fabric. The bird, the satin ribbon and the masu box all give off that same shiny smooth gleam.

STIFF STRUCTURE




Cupcake Paper Holder




Japanese Architecture




Structured Design




Origami




Stiff Satin Manipulation



 






















The stiff structured texture Prada used for her collection is clearly demonstrated in how the satin fabric is manipulated into sharp points. This influence is clearly seen in the stiff appearance of the cupcake paper holder, the sharp stiff points of the Japanese building, the stiff design and the folded origami.

Texture is uber important when creating garments. What other influences do you think Prada drew from for the other textures used in the collection?

Hitting the Pavement Runway Style

Look around you. You don't have to go to runway shows to find trendy fashions. Just simply observe the fashions of passerbys as you are walking to Starbucks to get your morning coffee or shopping at the mall. One of the biggest inspriations for new trends is passing you by as you rush to class. Take a moment to really see what other people, old and young, are wearing because you will be surprised how many of those trends will end up on the runway. Thats right, designers take inspiration from street fashions and utilize them throughout their collection. Its like the student is teaching the master.

Opening my eyes to this new fashion revelation, I was able to observe many different trends on Thayer Street and around Brown University that transpired into elements within Prada's Spring 2013 RTW collection.

As you can see, flower patterns and motifs were a very popular trend in street fashion. This floral design was seen mostly on backpacks which are quickly becoming this year's new must have handbag replacement. The design was an allover pattern which appeared also on handbags. Although definetly more popular with the younger crowd, mostly college students, there are no limits in age for this hot trend.

Floral patterns are definetly going to be a hot trend for Spring 2013 as seen by the trendsetters of the street. Handbags and backpacks are especially going to be featuring this in demand ultra feminine print so make sure to really accentuate those key accessories in your wardrobe selection for spring.  

Throughout Prada's collection, you can see this street fashion influence on her handbags. Like the backpacks, the floral motif is used all over the bag. Prada also utilized the floral concept throughout her collection on apparel whether it was painted, printed or sewn on. Realizing the popularity of this chic feminine trend on the streets, Prada was smart to incorporate it throughout the collection, playing on the 60's flower power theme.

So what do you think? Will you be rocking this super girly floral pattern come Spring?

Garden of Tranquilty

Prada's Spring 2013 RTW line was centered around a theme of Japonisme so as expected, the color story was one with Japanese influence.

The main colors of this Spring 2013 collection consisted of :


Pure White, Linen, Poppy Red, Tangerine, Greyed Jade, Emerald, Deep Purple and Black


Although these hues expressed Miuccia Prada's vision of the Japanese culture mixed with 60's minimalism, I feel there are some other colors she could have incorporated that could have given it that extra wow factor and reflect the theme of Japonisme in a more colorful, cheerful light.

Of course, I stuck with the Japanese influences to come up with color ideas that would complement the ones shown in the current collection.

 

 The colors I drew from these inspirational photos were:

 

Golden Sun, Zen Garden Green, Peaceful Pond Blue, Cultured Cobalt, and Silk Maroon



I chose this collection of colors because they each add bits of intensity to the hues of Prada's Spring 2013 collection. The Golden Sun compliments and intensifies the deep purple hue while also adding a richness to the collection as a whole. The Zen Garden Green contrasts the Poppy Red in a way which draws immediate attention and interest. Prada did use this color but very sparingly, only as a detail on some of the model's thong flat form.

The Peaceful Pond blue works well with the Tangerine color, commonly used in the Japanese culture in prints. Cultured Cobalt adds a great contrast to the Tangerine as well, especially on the dress where the Tangerine colors is lightened up a bit to a lighter orange hue.

The Silk Maroon adds a touch of elegance known in the culture of Japan.

After doing some research, I have a feeling as to what colors may appear in Prada's next future collection. As you may know, in order to predict the future, one must look to the past. When looking at Prada's Fall 2012 RTW collection, I noticed similar hues that were utilized in their most recent collection, Spring 2013 RTW. The main colors were: Black, Bright Red, Nectarine Orange, Bold Purple, Mustard Yellow, Lime Green, Navy Blue and Chocolate Brown.

Noticing the similarities in the color stories ,I have complied some hues that could very likely be in Prada's upcoming collection.

Of course, typical of Prada, Black will also be part of any future collection but these hues are just upgrades from the colors used previously. The red here has a pink tint to it, the orange is much lighter, the blue has a green undertone, the purple is a lighter version of both collections and the gray which was also featured in Prada's Spring 2013 RTW collection is a lighter version.

What colors do you think Prada will use for their next collection?



Oriental Flower Power

"Dream is forbidden, nostalgia is forbidden, to be sweet is not good. Everything we used to feel historically, now you can't enjoy. The clothes are the expression of this impossible dream."

                                                                                                     - Miuccia Prada

After much anticipation, Prada's Spring 2013 Ready to Wear collection finally showed in Milan, Italy this past week.Always the one to convey important underlying messages, Prada's collection centered around the struggle women  have trying to balance being strong yet feminine at the same time. To exude both toughness and delicacy would be like an impossible dream.

 Models strut down the runway, feminine flowers in exuberant reds and oranges decorating the severely structured garments which start in a dark color palette and as the show progresses, shifts to pastels. Yet a dark undertone remained consistent throughout.

 Japonisme was the major theme of this collection, seen in the kimono like silhouettes, origami inspired fold details, Japanese flowers, major color palette (red, black, white, pink) and geisha inspired thong platforms.

Areas of Inspiration:

HISTORICAL

 Drawing inspiration mainly from Japanese culture, Prada also mixes in hints of the sixties era in order to create this "impossible dream." The sixties were a time when feminists started to emerge and women began to fight for their equal rights. In Japan, women were expected to be feminine (think geishas) and their male counterparts had the upper hand in all matters. These women struggled between maintaining their femininity and having the rights they believed they deserved.



Prada Spring 2013 RTW
Style.com

  In a sort of "I am woman" fashion, the models depicted how women can be strong, fierce individuals while still retaining their femininity. Prada does this by starting the show with garments in dark colors in sharp, structured silhouettes, giving off a tough girl vibe but added  printed and appliqued floral designs to soften the image and show the poetic side of a woman. As Miuccia Prada stated herself, "It's about feelings. There are two opposites-rectangular shapes, with folds, very geometric; with the flower as a symbol, of poetry, sentiment, community..."

ART



Prada Spring 2013 RTW
Floral decoration
Style.com

  


Flowers of the Four Seasons
Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture
Google.com/Images 

ORIGAMI

   

  

   
  

    

                                                                           

 CULTURAL

Traditional Japanese Kimonos

 

 Prada's Spring 2013 Ready to Wear collection was a darker, Oriental take on sixties flower power. Heavily influenced by the Japanese culture, the designer looked to meld the two sides of women (femininity and strength) into one, making the "impossible dream" very possible.

To see the inspiration in action, check out the runway show for yourself:

 http://video.wmagazine.com/runway-collections/prada-spring-2013