Quirky, extreme and overstimulating in the best way, Prada SS25 is a whirlwind of dystopian pieces inspired by algorithms - the internet's method of showing users content based upon content they engage with is not dissimilar from the industry. Houses pump out trend-led collections - hello, athleisure - because it's popular, social media-approved and therefore a guaranteed seller.
Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada challenge this idea with an oddball collection that seemingly is put together by shuffle and has no underlying theme - it is simply a collection of clothing, created from inspiration and imagination. "Humanity can be defined by its unpredictability... impossible contradictions" read the show notes, and unpredictable it was.
The presentation saw models stomping the runway in daywear adorned in doorknocker-esque metal rings; skirts were suspended from waist-hugging belts; other pieces came alive with fringe, beading, feathers and mirror mosaics; while the only whispers of normalcy - that is, office-appropriate shirts and polos - were finished with spiked edges, courtesy of integrated wire. The finishing touch? Dystopian headgear in the form of oversized visors and sci-fi sunglasses.
As futuristic as the collection is, there are elements of Prada's past buried within - the House's signature pastels were scattered throughout, alongside knitwear co-ords and colourful tights. Elsewhere, Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada played with chronology, plucking multiple footwear silhouettes from the archives (including the 2012 rocket shoes) and SS24s sculptural dresses.
Discover The Collection
Images courtesy of launchmetrics/spotlight
