All Eyes on Prada in Milan
This week, everyone will be talking about Prada rumours in Milan, the one-year anniversary of Karl Lagerfeld's death and a potential sale of Victoria's Secret. Get your BoF Professional Cheat Sheet.
- Milan Fashion Week runs Feb. 19-24; highlights include Moncler and Gucci on Feb. 19, Prada and Fendi on Feb. 20, Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta on Feb. 22
- Prada has denied rumours it is seeking a buyer, while declining to comment on talk that Raf Simons will join the brand in some capacity
- Prada shares are down about 30 percent over the last five years, while Gucci-owner Kering's stock is up 257 percent over the same period
Though Prada as a brand remains a household name from Shanghai to Sheboygan, its owner has struggled to turn that notoriety into a prosperous global business. Where Louis Vuitton and Gucci have soared, Prada came late to the streetwear trend and has suffered embarrassing missteps, leading to surreal headlines earlier this month when Miuccia Prada herself agreed to attend cultural sensitivity training. Hiring Simons would certainly quiet questions about the brand's succession plan, at least in the short term. It's unlikely those rumours will be confirmed or put to rest this week, though it's another storyline to follow in what is, between Gucci's 180-degree aesthetic turn and Bottega Veneta's creative and commercial resurgence, already a pretty plot-heavy few days.