Prada Reflects Clothing as Archaeology of Life for FW26 Men’s Collection
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons redefine modern menswear codes with utility capes and precise tailoring.
Summary
- Prada’s FW26 Mens collection explores an “archaeology of thought,” blending historical motifs from antiquity and the Renaissance with modern, elongated silhouettes
- Key pieces included high‑buttoning coats, utility‑cape trenches, quilted leather jackets, and collaged prints referencing antiquity and renaissance
Prada presented its Fall/Winter 2026 Menswear Collection at Milan Fashion Week. Titled “Before and Next,” co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons explore the idea of evolution without erasure, bringing forth new ideas built upon echoes of the past. The collection serves as an “archaeology of thought,” with the lineup framed around elongated, precise silhouettes that emphasized posture and attitude — reworking familiar elements of menswear through a questioning of convention.
Key pieces included high‑buttoning topcoats, trench coats paired with colorful utility capes and quilted down jackets crafted from rumpled brown leather. A key visual element includes collaged prints that excavate layers of meaning by juxtaposing references to diverse historical eras, including antiquity and the Renaissance. Roman-esque motifs and displaced proportions added a sense of curiosity, while the elongated cuts created a conscious awareness of the human form within. The collection’s palette and textures carried impressions of life and duration, reinforcing the theme of remembrance as a sign of respect.
The show took place in the Deposito of the Fondazione Prada, which was reimagined as a liminal space where vestiges of interior lives framed a public arena for connection. This setting reinforced the collection’s focus on openness, where details that are usually concealed were revealed.
