Introduction
Why is Italy’s oldest famous fashion house synonymous with plastic?
Because that’s what nylon is, plastic!
But calling it “just plastic” doesn’t tell the whole story. How did a material once dismissed as cheap and industrial find its way into high fashion, becoming a symbol of luxury and rebellion??
If you hate scrolling, the “too long, didn’t read” answer is:
Anti fashion, Miuccia Prada, and history repeating itself.
The long, and much more insightful answer, starts here:
Plastic Fantastic!
A term coined in the 80’s, it ironically describes the short lifespan of plastic products.
If you’re reading this, chances are you too feel a certain disdain for the mother of mass produced. Yet, it’s this very material that Prada transformed into something extraordinary.
It’s no coincidence that the Prada nylon line also originates from the 80’s. It was Miuccia Prada’s first successful line of handbags, after some short flings with more traditional leather styles, following the tradition of her mother Luisa Prada.
But times were changing, and simply doing like mama did would not cut it going into the 80’s.
Fashionistas during this time had likely been in circles of hippies and punks—groups that embraced a bold new course. Whether they believed in tearing down the system, advocating peace & love, or if they simply were in it for the psychedelics and music matters not.
Rebelling against the parent’s generations was romanticized and so their parents’ fashion simply would not cut it.
Miuccia Prada understood this, and her designs reflected a rejection of the traditional, merging functionality with a hint of counterculture edge.
With nylon, she found a material that embodied the spirit of the time: practical yet revolutionary, industrial yet elegant. It was the perfect medium for a generation seeking to break free from convention while still embracing sophistication.
Enter the Prada Vela Backpack
Prada backpack on ZenPlus marketplace.
Even people not into fashion have seen this iconic piece of fashion history either in real life or on the silver screen. The Vela backpack, introduced in 1984, was Miuccia Prada’s first major creation and quickly became a cornerstone of her brand. It dominated the fashion landscape all the way into the early 2000’s. Made from water-resistant Pocono nylon, the bag wasn’t just stylish—it was revolutionary.
But this innovation didn’t come easily or cheaply. Prada explained in 2004 that her nylon bags were more expensive than leather ones because developing the techniques to work with the fabric took three or four years.
Anti fashion:
When the Vela backpack first “dropped” as the kids say, Prada was 34 years old, holding a doctorate in political science, a member of the communist party of Italy and an outspoken feminist. It’s no wonder she found the bourgeoisie designs of the past unappealing.
Similar to Chanel when she designed her iconic flap bag, which arguably birthed the modern fashion industry, Prada wanted something liberating, beautiful and timeless. For Prada, nylon became this revelation.
At the time, nylon was shunned as a cheap material mainly used in workwear and mass produced factories. It was a symbol of the working class, far removed from the world of high fashion.
By bringing in such a material to the runway, Miuccia not only reverted expectations. She offered female fashionistas a practical yet stylish option—largely waterproof, great for travel, and designed for full mobility, freeing both hands while looking so darn sexy. Walking the balance of cute and hardcore, the backpack was an instant hit.
Miuccia The Feminist
I parallel the Vela backpack to the Chanel Flap bag, which was a step away from the restrictive, arm-robbing handbags of the past. While it may seem trivial today, at the time, the high fashion world offered no alternatives that matched the freedom and independence the Vela backpack provided. It just took enough inspiration from its rebel roots.
There’s a reason we see young people today walk around with Fjallraven's Kanken backpacks, or Longchamp, but it all started with Prada.
The Vela backpack is versatile enough to effortlessly transition between settings, looking just as good at a Hollywood premiere as it does on a protest, or a rave.
Prada nylon looking like it belongs in any setting.
Timelessness
It’s been 40 years since the Prada nylon was introduced, and for the reasons stated above, it has proven to be truly timeless. Despite the steep price tag, people don’t stop wanting to be punk despite being upperclass.
In fact, in the past three years, searches for Prada nylon bags have surged by 815%---a spike that partly driven by Kim Kadarshian’s 2017 photo with the brand’s nylon messenger satchel. Celebrities like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and others have also embraced Prada nylon pieces, solidifying their status as an iconic, must-have accessories.
The influence didn’t stop there. Brands like Vivienne Westwood, Chrome Hearts, BAPE and more, also have direct ties to Prada's Nylon designs and her era.
Prada herself is quite open about how her designs are focused on capturing the essence of fashion, and not to get caught up in trends, though she admits it is unavoidable at times.
Full Circle
If you’re following the fashion landscape, you’ve likely aware of Prada’s re-release of the Vela backpack along with other nylon designs with her iconic Re-Nylon line. This collection uses a material known as Econyl, which is 100% recycled and recyclable.
Not only is the form familiar, but it’s soul too.
After all, who are today’s punks and hippies if not climate activists?
Now it’s time to do your part in RE-cycling! ZenPlus has a plethora of pre-loved Prada pieces, ready to be RE-Loved, by you!
About The Writer
Magnus Paslawski has three years of professional experience as a re-seller and auctioneer of luxury goods. He currently does marketing for ZenPop.jp but is always up to date on the designer world. Read his previous designer bag blogs ZenPlus Has a Himalayan Croc Birkin and It’s Everything! and Why do people prefer luxury shopping in Japan?
