Above: Beautiful Prada Models Modeling For Prada High Fashion Advertising Campaigns.

ZARZAR MODELS takes its millions of fans throughout the world to the Prada spring summer 2012 high fashion runway show in Milan with top models Arizona Muse, Jessica Stam, and Romee Strijd as they walk for one of the most prestigious fashion brands in the world. ZARZAR MODELS takes you backstage and shows you the incredibly sexy beauty look that makeup artists Pat McGrath and Guido Palau created for the Prada fashion show. This show is probably Miuccia Prada's most personal collection to date and the 1950's inspired looks are one of the hottest trends of the season. As Guido explained backstage "It's a little bit of a trashy girl wearing very sophisticated clothing, but she lives in a dark Lynchesque world".



Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women (ready to wear clothing, leather accessories, shoes, luggage, and hats) founded by Mario Prada.

The company Prada was started in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino as a leather goods shop - Fratelli Prada (Prada Brothers in English) in Milan, Italy. Initially, the Prada shop sold leather goods and imported English steamer trunks and handbags. Mario Prada did not believe that women should have a role in business, and so he prevented female family members from entering into his company. Ironically, Mario's son harbored no interest in the business, so it was his daughter Luisa Prada who took the helm of Prada as his successor, and ran it for almost twenty years. Her own daughter, the legendary Miuccia Prada, joined the company in 1970, eventually taking over for her mother in 1978.

Miuccia Prada met Patrizio Bertelli in 1977, an Italian who had begun his own leather goods business at the age of 17, and he joined the company soon after. He advised Miuccia to discontinue importing English goods and to change the existing luggage styles and she followed his advice.


Above: Beautiful Prada Models Modeling For Prada High Fashion Advertising Campaigns.

Development of Prada

Miuccia inherited the company in 1978 by which time sales were up to $450,000 United States Dollars. With Bertelli alongside her as business manager, Miuccia Prada was allowed time to implement and incorporate her fashion ideas into the house of Prada without having to focus so much on the business side.

In 1983, Prada opened a second boutique in Milan reminiscent to the original shop, but with a sleek and modern contrast. Soon after, the house of Prada began expansion across continental Europe by opening locations in prominent shopping districts within Florence, Paris, Madrid, and New York City. A shoe line was also released in 1984. In 1985, Miuccia Prada released the "classic Prada handbag" that became an overnight sensation. Although practical and sturdy, its sleek lines and craftsmanship exuded an offhand aura of luxury that has become the Prada signature.

In 1987, Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli married. Prada launched its women's ready to wear collection in 1989, and the designs came to be known for their dropped waistlines and narrow belts. The popularity of Prada skyrocketed when the fashion world took notice of its clean lines, opulent fabrics, and basic colors. The logo for the label was not as obvious a design element as those on bags from other prominent luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton. It tried to market its lack of prestigious appeal by its image of "anti-status" or "reverse snobbery".


Above: Beautiful Prada Models Modeling For Prada High Fashion Advertising Campaigns.

The originality of Prada made it one of the most influential fashion houses, and the brand became a premium status symbol in the 1990's. The signature Prada look encompassed luxurious fabrics in mostly black, browns, grays, greens, and creams to create simple, yet provocative styles. Furthermore, now husband and wife, Miuccia Prada and Bertelli led the Prada label on a cautious expansion, making products hard to come by at fashion stores. By now the House of Prada operated in 40 locations worldwide, 20 of which were in Japan. The company owned eight factories and subcontracted work from approximately 84 other manufacturers in Italy. Miuccia's Prada and Bertelli company were merged to create Prapar B.V. in 1996. The name, however, was later changed to Prada B.V. and Patrizio Bertelli was named Chief Executive Officer of the Prada luxury company.


Above: Beautiful Prada Models Modeling For Prada High Fashion Advertising Campaigns.

In 1997, Prada made approximately US$674 million in sales. Another store in Milan opened that same year. According to the Wall Street Journal, Bertelli smashed the windows of the store a day before the opening, after he had become deeply unsatisfied with the set-up. Prada also acquired shares in the Gucci group. It is also believed that Bertelli blamed Gucci for "aping his wife's designs". In June 1998, Bertelli gained a 9.5% interests in the Gucci group valued at approximately US$260 million. Analysts began to speculate that he was attempting a take over of the Gucci group. The proposition seemed unlikely, however, because Prada was at the time still a small company and was in debt. At the very least, Prada had a voice as one of Gucci's largest shareholders (a 10 percent holding would be required for the right to request a seat on the board of directors) and would stand to profit nicely should anyone try to take over Gucci. However, Bertelli sold his shares to Moët-Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) chairman Bernard Arnault in January 1998 for a profit of US$140 million. Bernard Arnault was in fact attempting a take over of Gucci. LVMH had been purchasing fashion companies for a while and already owned Dior, Givenchy, and other luxury brands. Gucci, however, managed to fend him off by selling a 45% stake to industrialist François Pinault, for US$3 billion.

Prada was determined to hold a leading portfolio of luxury brands, like the Gucci group and LVMH. In October 1999, Prada joined with LVMH and beat Gucci to buy a 51% stake in the Rome based Fendi S.p.A. 
These acquisitions elevated Prada to the top of the luxury goods market in Europe. Despite apparent success, the company was still in debt.


Above: Beautiful Prada Models Modeling For Prada High Fashion Advertising Campaigns.

A New Look Into The 21st Century

To help pay off debts of over US$850 million, the company planned on listing 30% of the company on the Milan Stock Exchange in June 2001. However, the offering slowed down after a decline in spending on luxury goods in the United States and Japan. In 2001, under the pressure of his bankers, Bertelli sold all of Prada's 25.5% share in Fendi to LVMH. The sale raised only US$295 million. By 2006, the Helmut Lang, Amy Fairclough, and Jil Sander labels were also sold in order to pay down debt. Prada is still recovering from the Fendi debt. Prada's revenues are now in the billions of United States Dollars.

In June 2011 Milan based fashion house Prada listed its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange which enabled it to raise approximately $2.14 billion United States dollars from investors.


Above: Beautiful Prada Models Modeling For Prada High Fashion Advertising Campaigns.

Prada Runway Shows

Previous Prada exclusives and openers who have gone on to success in the fashion world include unknown models and actors who have worked for cheap or for free including Daria Werbowy, Gemma Ward, Suvi Koponen, and Sasha Pivovarova, who went on to appear in Prada ad campaigns for six consecutive seasons after opening the Prada fall 2005 fashion runway show. During 2012 Prada is expected to continue its global expansion as well as to continue to create one of the most prestigious high fashion runway shows in the world.