Milan Fashion Week: Prada unveil first collection with Raf Simons, women’s spring/summer 2021 – think minimal, monochrome and uniform-inspired
Former creative at Calvin Klein and Christian Dior, Prada’s new co-creative Raf Simons is the first outsider to work with head designer Miucca Prada – together the pair unveiled the Italian luxury fashion brand’s latest minimalist, uniform-inspired spring/summer 2021 women’s collection, live-streamed from Milan Fashion Week
The pair’s spring/summer 2021 women’s show was streamed live on Thursday for Milan Fashion Week, where most collections are being presented digitally and without audiences due to Covid-19 social distancing rules.
“It’s a really strange situation,” Prada said in a video after the show, where she and Simons answered questions from people around the world. “But we have the occasion to really show the clothes. We can’t see the real people, the public, but at least we hope you can enjoy and see the clothes better.”
Models wore mostly black and white or pastel-coloured vests, trousers and long skirts in simple, monochrome designs which Prada said were inspired by the idea of uniforms. Many clothes had round-shaped holes cut out of the fabric.
“Clothes are pared-back, refined, focused, without superfluous decoration: shell tops, straight pants, overcoats in industrial re-nylon [regenerated nylon],” the brand said in a statement.
Simons, 52, said he had never expected to be one day co-designing a collection with Prada, but that he was “extremely happy” with the result.
“Maybe it’s harder as you have more dialogue, and that can also impact the timing, but all in all I find it easier,” he said when asked what it was like to jointly create a collection. “Decision-making for me is strengthened when I know that Miuccia likes very much what I also like very much. Even if I am convinced, my decision is strengthened when I know that she too is convinced.”
After becoming one of Italy’s best-known fashion houses, Prada has struggled in recent years.