Word of the Week: Prada... That’s all

For many, this weekend has been about the movies. In fact, many of us may have already rushed to the theatres to watch the highly anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2. The movie sees the return of Meryl Streep as the icy, commanding, manipulative, cruel, oddly sympathetic, and endlessly imitated Miranda Priestly, along with Anne Hathaway playing Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt recast as Emily, and Stanley Tucci playing the ever-loyal Nigel.

The sequel to the hit movie The Devil Wears Prada comes after a long, long period of time — the first part was released 20 years ago on June 30, 2006.

And if the crowds at movie halls and reviews are indicators, then it seems that the film has achieved cult status, with a legion of fans across the globe, irrespective of their colour, creed, or personal fashion preferences.

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And that’s why Prada is our Word of the Week. Yes, really!

Prada: From leather goods store to fashion behemoth

Today, Prada is one of the world’s most reputed and famous fashion houses. Everyone is acquainted with the iconic triangular logo that bears the name Prada. But Prada wasn’t always Prada. In fact, its transformation into a design house only occurred in the late 1970s.

In 1913, Mario Prada opened the first Prada store in Milan’s grand 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where he mostly sold luxury leather travel cases. The store initially sold high-quality leather crafts and luxurious products, such as England-imported trunks, travelling accessories, and other items. In a few years, Fratelli Prada evolved from a nice shop to a supplier for Italian aristocratic families.

In 1978, Miuccia Prada, a former leftist political science student and mime artist, took over her grandfather’s company. Her minimal black nylon backpack was a big hit in the 1980s, and she was later named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the 30 most powerful women in Europe.

People walk past the Prada store in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in Milan, Italy. File image/Reuters

In 1988, Miuccia, with some encouragement from her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, introduced ready-to-wear fashion. The collection was inspired by Miuccia’s wardrobe, which included school uniforms, with a predominance of black and brown.

And the rest they say is history.

Then came along The Devil Wears Prada

In 2003, a book titled The Devil Wears Prada was released, which was authored by Lauren Weisberger. While the book received good reviews, it didn’t really shake the publishing industry.

However, three years later, the book became the basis of a Hollywood movie with the same title. It was set at a fictional magazine called Runway and told the story of workplace toxicity, psychological manipulation, burnout culture, and the quiet tyranny of demanding bosses. The movie spoke of the tensions between ambition and personal values.

Cover of Lauren Weisberger's book titled The Devil Wears Prada, which was later turned into a movie. Image Courtesy: Amazon

Soon after the movie was released, comparisons began between Runway and Vogue, the fashion magazine considered to be the bible, and Miranda Priestly with Anna Wintour. In fact, Weisberger, who authored the book on which the movie is set, served as Wintour’s junior assistant in and around 1999 at Vogue.

But in her promotions, Weisberger always insisted that the book had little to do with Anna. Even during the movie promotion, director David Frankel and Streep insisted that it wasn’t about Anna Wintour. Frankel even said Streep actually based her character on her experiences with actor/director Clint Eastwood and director Mike Nichols, saying, “The fact that Clint Eastwood didn’t raise his voice and Anna Wintour never raises her voice, you can find parallels.”

The movie, with its brilliant acting and some epic dialogues (‘That all’ and ‘Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking’), instantly became a cult classic. For those who love all things fashion, the movie didn’t disappoint either.

For many, the movie went beyond being a chick-flick. The film was considered light enough for casual viewing, yet rich enough as an analysis of women’s ambition. For some, it was about society forcing women to choose between personal and professional commitments. Others contended the film linked female empowerment with consumerism and individual choice, framing this as a form of agency for women.

Depending on your age and your job, you viewed The Devil Wears Prada differently, contributing to its success.

A scene from The Devil Wears Prada, which was initially released in 2006. Image Courtesy: Netflix

Prada toes the line

But the sequel to the hit movie isn’t the only reason that Prada has been in the headlines this week.

The Italian luxury brand also launched a limited-edition line of Kolhapuri footwear, nearly a year after it faced criticism over cultural appropriation. The company said the new sandals, priced at €750 (Rs 83,250) a pair, have been manufactured by artisans from the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, where the sandals are traditionally made.

Last June, the company faced intense flak when it presented similar designs at a Milan fashion show without referring to their Indian origins. At the time, the brand described the toe-loop footwear simply as “leather sandals”. The company later acknowledged the design’s Indian roots.

But it seems the internet loves to hate on Prada. Many netizens called out the design house, saying the footwear wasn’t “inspired” but the actual Kolhapur chappal. They also trolled Prada for charging a bomb for the footwear.

Good or bad, it’s been Prada’s week.