Raf Simons Debuts First Collection for Prada
See the highly anticipated Spring/Summer 2021 collection here.
Following months of anticipation since the initial announcement that Raf Simons would be joining Prada, the designer’s first collection is here. Together with Miuccia Prada, Simons designed the label’s Spring/Summer 2021 range, combining traditional house codes with an edgy touch and a new take on the house’s signature logo.
Streaming the collection live, the SS21 range was shown in a pastel yellow room, complete with screens that displayed each model’s name as they walked through the set. Simple yet eye-catching, the debut look was an all-black top printed with an oversized Prada logo in white, paired with tailored trousers and a coat in the same hue. The monochrome look was finished off with an elongated white kitten heel, which set the tone for the rest of the footwear in the collection. Throughout the looks, we saw everything from layered pastel looks, ’70s inspired prints, logo-heavy and utilitarian graphics à la Raf Simons, as well as new retro bags and of course, nylon.
Re-imaging Prada’s iconic triangle logo, Simons used oversized patches and printed iterations of the moniker, and also didn’t shy away from doubling up with two logos on one piece. We also saw simple turtle necks with a small “Prada” graphic at the neck, a familiar piece that we’ve seen from Simons in the past, most recently during his stint at Calvin Klein. The collection also featured cut-out knits and cardigans textured with holes throughout, as well as oversized coats that models clenched to their chests as they walked down the runway.
Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada managed to flawlessly merge the heritage brand with new and modern style cues brought in by Simons, playing off the concept of uniform as well as the brand’s vast history. The show ended with a Q&A with the two designers, talking about their collaboration and some of the hardships of working together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a look at the full Prada presentation in the gallery above, and let us know what you thought of Raf Simons’ debut in the comments below.
