The Reluctant Designer

Tina Gaudoin of The Sunday Times shares with us an interesting insight about dear MiuMiu, the lady behind Prada and the quirky cult brand named after her:

Some things we already know about Miuccia Prada: that she's a feminist, that she's smart as a whip, and she has a doctorate in political science from the University of Milan to prove it. That, as a former member of the Communist party, she reluctantly embraced fashion, beginning her career in 1978 when she took over the family luggage-making business and began creating humble black nylon backpacks bearing a brand name that many initially confused with Prado, the great Madrid museum. That, steadily and stealthily, without fanfare, celebrity appearances (or giving many interviews), and with her husband, Patrizio Bertelli, she built both a multibillion-dollar business and a reputation as fashion's greatest visionary. And yet, and yet… in 2004, with a level of self-deprecation that seemed to increase exponentially with the success of her business, she told The New Yorker, “I make clothes. It's silly. But it's my job.”

What a shock right? But the good thing is, fashion, like a persistent suitor, has charmed its way into her heart. Says Mrs. P (as Ms. Gaudoin referred to her), “Yes, very recently I have changed my mind about my work. I see now that there are different possibilities of contacting different people and finding out different things from all over the world. In the end I have found that it is not so bad.”

Not bad at all!!! As it is now, we're already blown away by the intelligence and humor evident in her designs. Imagine how else it could have been had her heart been set on fashion to start with! This lady is a genius I tell you! A genius!