Miuccia Prada

Miuccia Prada was born in 1949 in Milan, Italy and into the Prada family business.

The company was started in 1913 by Mario Prada, Miuccia's grandfather, as a leather goods company which was known mainly for funtional dependable products.

In 1978, Miuccia Prada reluctantly took over the company and shifted the focus towards couture style.

It seems very interesting that at that time Miuccia had earned her PhD in Political Science and had no intentions of ever turning the company into the iconic name brand it is today as her interests were elsewhere.

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Another little known fact, is that she worked as a mime for 5 years at Teatro Piccolo in Milan before becoming involved in the family business.

Due to her interest in political science, she was a paid member of the communist party (which seems quite the oxymoron given the fact that she became such a successful business entrepreneur) and a women's right activist in Milan in the seventies.

In 1985 she designed a new line of Prada handbags constucted of nylon and made only in black. These handbags became an overnight success leading a few A list celebrities to scoop them up which added to the popularity.

In 1989, Miuccia Prada released her first 'ready to wear' line for women which also reached pinnacles of success due to the contrast in design from the fashions of the day.

In 1995, she launched her first collection for men which also achieved extraordinary success.

Miuccia started the Miu Miu collection (which is her nickname)a less expensive line of clothing and handbags, in order to reach more markets.

Miucciaa attributes all of her successes to her husband, Patrizio Bertelli which she met about the same time she took over the Prada family business. Together they work as business partners and continue to take the fashion world by storm.