Prada Returns to Minimalist Roots for 1st Joint Collection

FILE PHOTO: The Prada store is shown in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 17, 2020. REUTERS/ Mike Blake/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Prada store is shown in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 17, 2020. REUTERS/ Mike Blake/File Photo
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Prada Returns to Minimalist Roots for 1st Joint Collection

FILE PHOTO: The Prada store is shown in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 17, 2020. REUTERS/ Mike Blake/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Prada store is shown in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 17, 2020. REUTERS/ Mike Blake/File Photo

Miuccia Prada went back to her trademark minimalist style for her first collection with Belgian designer Raf Simons, who joined the Italian fashion group as co-creative director in February.

The pair's Spring/Summer 2021 women's show was streamed live on Thursday for Milan's fashion week, where most collections are being presented digitally and without audiences due to coronavirus 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-colored 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," the brand said in a statement.

Simons, 52, said he had never expected to be, one day, co-designing a collection with Miuccia Prada, but that he was "extremely happy" with the result.

"Maybe it's harder as you have more dialogue, and that can also impact on 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."



Italian Fashion Group OTB Reports Big Drop in 2024 Operating Profit

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Italian clothing manufacturer Diesel is seen outside a store in Vienna, Austria, June 4, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Italian clothing manufacturer Diesel is seen outside a store in Vienna, Austria, June 4, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
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Italian Fashion Group OTB Reports Big Drop in 2024 Operating Profit

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Italian clothing manufacturer Diesel is seen outside a store in Vienna, Austria, June 4, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Italian clothing manufacturer Diesel is seen outside a store in Vienna, Austria, June 4, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Operating profit at Italian fashion company OTB, which owns brands such as Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni and Jil Sander, shrank last year, while turnover declined 4% at constant exchange rates to 1.8 billion euros.
The family-owned group said on Tuesday that its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) totaled 44 million euros ($46 million), down from 140 million euros reported in 2023.
"(In 2024) we have continued with our strategy of expanding direct channels, where we have performed positively. However, we experienced declines in the wholesale channel, which have negatively impacted the entire industry", said Chairman and founder Renzo Rosso.