Miuccia Prada wins international designer of the year award
Francesca Fearon
Prada's Hong Kong flagship store reopens in Alexandra House this week, revamped by Italian architect Roberto Baciocchi, and a stunning vision of flagstone floors and glass it is.
Meanwhile, in London a few days ago, Miuccia Prada was named international designer of the year at the prestigious and glamorous British Fashion Awards at the London Coliseum.
She embodies the spirit of London
It was a timely reminder of what a global phenomenon Ms Prada has become over the past 25 years. Her knack of finding inspiration in the "ugly" and transforming it into something that others find desirable has turned her label and Miu Miu into a £3 billion (HK$38 billion) business.
The shy designer, who snuck into the ceremony after everyone else had sat down for dinner, was nominated alongside Marc Jacobs and Raf Simons at Christian Dior.
On receiving the award from Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, she said, "I am really happy, mainly because I won against some really great designers."
Another award winner just at the dawn of her career is Simone Rocha, who scooped the emerging womenswear designer accolade for her grungy but endearing vision of glamour. She was in Hong Kong recently with I.T and managed to catch some time with her family - her father John Rocha was born and raised in Hong Kong - before flying to her pop-up shop at I.T in Beijing Market.