Italian Fashion Designer Miuccia Prada Weighs in on Challenges for Women
Miuccia Prada, a renowned Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur, believes that the greatest challenge for women in the Western world today is the reconciliation of work and family life. In an interview with the Zeitmagazin, Prada emphasized that “if one does not work, one has no freedom.” She also stressed the importance of financial independence, stating, “If one has to ask someone for money to survive, one is at the mercy of that person. That is the only thing I am certain of: that one must earn one’s own living.”
As a mother of two grown sons, Prada acknowledged the difficulties of balancing work and family responsibilities, saying, “It is truly no easy life when one has children, must take care of everything and still works.”
Born in Milan in 1949, Prada took the helm of her family’s eponymous company at the age of 28 and is now widely regarded as the most influential fashion designer in the world. Prior to her rise to fame, she earned a degree in political science in the 1970s and was a member of the Italian Communist Party, as well as an active participant in the country’s women’s rights movement.
When asked about her understanding of feminism, Prada revealed a shift in her perspective, stating, “Until a few years ago, I would have said, ‘Yes, I want to walk naked on the street to be free.’ Today, I am no longer so sure if it means being free if a woman undresses, or if it means being in an awkward, over-the-top way sexy.