After the completion of Prada and Versace, numerous questions arise – but one focuses particularly on: will Prada succeed in preserving the DNA of Versace, as the Milan fashion house promised in its recent press release?
“Our goal is to continue the legacy of Versace by celebrating and reinterpreting his bold and timeless aesthetics,” said Patrizio Bertelli, President and Managing Director of the Prada Group. “We will offer a solid platform that has been strengthened over the years by continuous industrial and sales investments. Our organization is ready and well positioned to write a new page in the history of Versace by using the values of the group and continues to act with confidence and strict determination.”
Not the first takeover for the Prada Group
The group is not a newcomer when it comes to takeovers. In their history there are already acquisitions such as those of Helmut Lang and Jil Sander-both brands that were later sold again-as well as the takeover of the Church’s group. Now the company is doing everything possible to develop Versace – a project that was successful to implement the previous owner, Capri Holdings.
Versace is “a unique capital in the luxury landscape – with deep roots in fashion history and at the same time strong potential in contemporary context as well as a fine feeling for today’s and future society,” emphasized Prada on Thursday. Nevertheless, it seems as if the DNA of the brand will in future be supplemented by the “Made in Prada” genes. An influence that Dario vital, former design and image director of the Prada sister Miu Miu should significantly shape. He was appointed the new creative director and successor to Donatella Versace on March 13, before the takeover.
The origins of the Prada Group go back to 1913
The origins of the Prada Group, which has been listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange since 2011, go back until 1913. The brand was created as “Fratelli Prada” by the brothers Mario and Martino Prada. They opened their first business in the prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. In 1978 Mario’s granddaughter Miuccia Prada took over the management of the company. This date marks a decisive turning point in the history of the brand.
Miuccia Prada introduced an innovative approach to design and material use. In the 1980s she launched her iconic line of black nylon bags and backpacks, an industrial material that became a symbol of modernity and unconventional luxury.
At the end of the 1980s, Prada introduced her first women’s collection and thus defined a minimalist, refined and intellectual aesthetics that took off the more striking trends of the era. Under the direction of Miuccia Prada and her husband Patrizio Bertelli, who entered the company in the 1970s, the men’s line Prada Uomo and the Miu Miu sister brand were launched. In 1993 Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli also founded the Fondazione Prada, based in Milan and Venice.
Today the Prada Group is one of the most important actors in the global luxury segment. The product range includes clothing, leather goods, shoes, accessories, perfumes and glasses. Miuccia Prada and designer Raf Simon have been sharing the creative direction of the main brand since 2020. In addition to Prada, the group’s brand portfolio also includes Miu Miu, Church’s, Car Shoe, Marchesi 1824 and Luna Rossa. The group produces and sells prêt-à-porter collections, leather goods and shoes in over 70 countries-via a network of own stores, e-commerce channels, e-tailors and worldwide department stores.
The company is also active in the glasses and cosmetics sectors through license agreements. It runs 26 of its own production facilities and employs a total of 15,216 employees: inside. In 2024, the group achieved net sales of 5.4 billion euros – an increase of 17 percent compared to the previous year and thus above the industry average. According to Patrizio Bertelli, President and Managing Director of the Prada Group, this growth is based on strategic skill and the high quality of the products. In a telephone conference with analyst: Inside and press, he explained that the company was optimistic about 2025.
Retail sales amounted to 4.8 billion euros-an increase of 18 percent compared to 2023. This growth of space-adjusted sales and a strong full-price volume was borne. In the fourth quarter, retail sales also increased by 18 percent compared to the previous year. If you look at the individual brands, Prada retail turnover rose by 4 percent. Miu Miu, on the other hand, recorded a record growth of 93 percent – supported by all product categories and regions. In the fourth quarter, growth was 84 percent.
Under the leadership of CEO Andrea Guerra, profitability could be further increased: the EBIT margin was 23.6 percent, which corresponds to an operational result of 1.3 billion euros. The group surplus was 839 million euros – an increase of 25 percent compared to the previous year.
What is Versace?
The story of Versace began 47 years ago in the Palazzo della permanent in Milan when Gianni Versace presented his first women’s collection there. Already at a young age he came into contact with fashion in his mother’s studio. His Calabrian roots, his work as a costume designer and the glamorous Milan style formed his brave, sensual and luxurious design approach.
In 1972 he moved to Milan, where he initially designed for other brands before presenting his first collection under his own name in 1978. Versace revolutionized the fashion world with bright colors, striking prints and an unmistakable mix of classical art and pop culture-iconic embodied by the Medusa logo. After Gianni’s murder in 1997, Donatella Versace took over the creative management and led the brand into a new era.
Versace developed into a global fashion person with collections for women, men and children, haute couture, accessories, glasses, perfumes, watches, interior design and the Versace Jeans Couture line. Stars like Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Princess Diana, Elton John, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford wore the brand and made it known worldwide.
In 2018, Versace became part of Capri Holdings before the brand was taken over by the Prada Group after weeks of speculation. With the autumn/winter collection 2025/26, Donatella Versace also handed over the creative line to Dario Vitale. However, it remains loyal to the brand as a Chief Brand Ambassador.
This article was used with digital tools translated.
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