Miuccia Prada

Vocation

Notable

Traits

Family

Italian noted fashion designer. Prada trained briefly as an actress and earned her PhD in Political Science. But at age 28, she took over the Milan-based luxury leather goods company that her grandfather had founded in 1913. Although she initially was somewhat reluctant to step into the position of head designer, she created a line of handbags in 1985 that made a huge impact in the fashion world. Prada bags quickly became the accessory of choice for fashion models and movie stars. Her 1989 ready-to-wear collection for fall-winter was critically acclaimed, and in 1992, she debuted a new label with clothing inspired by her personal wardrobe and called the line, "Miu Miu," her own nickname. She won the Council of Fashion Designers of America International Award in 1993. During 1994, she opened a boutique in London and had her first show in New York. In 1978, she met the industrialist Patrizio Bertelli, owner of Luna Rossa, at a trade show, and he soon became CEO of Prada. While initially a business "match," constant contact between the two became personal, and they married eight years later. They have two sons. Link to Wikipedia biography