Remember the red Prada stripe back in the ’90s? Dubbed the linea rossa, which literally means ‘red stripe’ in Italian, the range was launched in 1997 as a sportswear extension to the Italian fashion house when designer Neil Barrett was helming Prada’s menswear line. The athleisure line, previously known as Prada Sport, was futuristic in its own right—utilising uncommon textiles and Italian craftsmanship to create lifestyle products and athletic eyewear for sailing, skiing, and auto-racing.
Teased at Prada’s autumn/winter 2018 show, Linea Rossa makes its timely comeback in an era where athleisure techwear reigns supreme. The revitalised lineup features a slew of unisex outerwear, footwear, and pieces designed for winter sports. Expect the pieces to feature state-of-the-art nanotech fabrics that are able to regulate body temperatures, feather-light paddings, and water and abrasion-resistant properties; all finished with the signature red Prada stripe. Even the classic ‘Tela Tecnica’ fabric is upgraded with anti-wind and waterproof elements—all whilst ensuring breathability.
Traditional stitching is also ditched for advanced methods of heat and internal heat-sealing, showcasing Prada’s technical prowess. Minimalism might still make up the bulk of the collection, but the full neon, high-vis hues are a much welcomed and refreshing take for the autumn/winter season.
The techwear trend is not slowing down, at least in the hip-hop scene. Kanye, wore the orange puffer over a Ralph Lauren suit when he attended the brand’s 50th anniversary show in New York. A$AP Rocky called himself a ‘PRADA BOI ’18‘ on Instagram while donning the neon green puffer jacket and quilted pants with a pair of Cloudburst sneakers. With the success from the brand’s revived ‘Impossible True Love’ shirt, we could definitely foresee Prada moving quickly up the rungs of the hype ladder with Linea Rossa.
The Prada Linea Rossa collection is available exclusively in Southeast Asia at the Prada Marina Bay Sands boutique.
