Bag alert rediscovered season after season, the Prada Galleria bag is redesigned in soft leather, transforming the timeless classic with a fresh lightness. You must be thinking – haven’t we mulled over the Prada Galleria enough times already? After all, it’s been around for nearly 15 years now; when will we stop talking about this beautiful bag and finally go buy one?
Prada Galleria: New styles
I’d like to speak about the renewed appreciation for the Galleria and how the purse (and its much-imitated silhouette) fares now, more than a decade into its release (spoiler alert: it’s still a classic). Is there a reason it continues to be the bag of choice for women worldwide? Let’s take a look!
The Inception of the Galleria
The Galleria came into being at a time when the handbag market had possibly peaked in terms of being the flashiest. The year I’m talking about is 2007 – the first iPhone had just come out and the recession still seemed like a far-off nightmare. It was also the year Miuccia Prada released a highly not-of-the-moment style – a Saffiano carryall. Featuring the now-famous double zip construction, an open central compartment, and an exceedingly minimal doctor bag-esque aesthetic with nothing but the triangular Prada logo and a removable clochette by way of embellishment.
Named after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade in Milan. Where Miuccia’s grandfather, Mario, opened the very first Prada store way back in 1913. The Galleria is truly an heirloom – and, of course, a welcome bit of just clean and unfussy structure amidst a sea of heavily ornamented slouchy hobos and gigantic totes. And arguably, it has paved the way for its counterparts in the market – the Fendi Peekaboo, the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour, the Givenchy Antigona, and the Celine Luggage.
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Photo Credit: PRADA
