The fashion brand is collaborating with Axiom Space to outfit astronauts.
Walking on the Moon just got a lot more chic. Axiom Space is teaming up with the Prada brand to design space suits for the Artemis III mission, the two companies announced on Wednesday. Set for 2025, the first human landing on the Moon since Apollo 17 will also mark the first collaboration between the Italian luxury house and a commercial space company.
"Prada's brand ethos of continuous progression for humanity extends to its desire for adventure and the exploration of new horizons: space," said Lorenzo Bertelli, Chief Marketing Officer of the Prada Group. "We are proud to be part of this historic mission with Axiom Space."
During the design process, engineers from Prada fashion house will collaborate with Axiom Space's systems team to perfect materials and features tailored for space exploration. The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit will include advanced options to enable astronauts to live and work on and around the Moon, including increased flexibility, better environmental protection, and specialized tools for research.
As for Prada fashion house, which may not be known for its connection to space, as their executives put it, they feel ready for the challenge. In fact, their involvement in the world of technologically advanced clothing has been ongoing for several years.
"Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology, and design expertise - which began in the nineties with the Luna Rossa challenge for America's Cup - will now be applied to the design of space suits for the Artemis era," said Bertelli. "It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation in advancing civilization."
Axiom Space, on the other hand, has years of experience in this field, as it conducts missions on the International Space Station and manages the first commercial space stations in low Earth orbit. While the final design of the new space suits is not yet known, it is possible that the collaboration between the company and the Prada brand will extend into the world of fashion.
"Prada's technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies that are critical not only for astronaut comfort on the lunar surface but also for the much-needed human factors missing in old space suits," said Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space.
If one day we can sustain life in great distances, perhaps a Prada store in space isn't so far-fetched.
