PENELOPE FLOURET
Edited by Leah Gilbert
We’ve all seen the 1960s photoshoots and the Vogue fashion spreads of what potential space suits could look like. The awkward, chunky metal outfits, the helmets that don’t really work, the silver dresses with dramatic eye makeup. Being on the moon in a designer chic space suit didn’t seem possible, but Prada defied these odds. As of last week, the iconic Italian fashion house announced its collaboration with Axiom Space, a company that plans to send people and their own space station into orbit.
Prada is partnering with Axiom to provide spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III mission. Set to launch in 2025, Artemis III will send humans- including the first woman- to the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada’s Group marketing director, son of co-founders Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, who plans to take over the company, says, “Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology, and design know-how […] will now be applied to the design of a spacesuit for the Artemis era. It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilization.”
Michael Suffredini, the CEO of Axiom Space, is looking forward to starting the project; this is not Prada’s first experience with using creative materials and having space as an inspiration, “They’re more than just a fashion company. They actually do quite a bit of technologically advanced things,” says Suffredini.
The new space suits will have unique elements and tools that will give astronauts more freedom and functionality during the mission. It will simultaneously be capable of shielding them from the dangers of space, allowing them to work safely and functionally on the moon.
This isn’t the first time Prada has strayed away from designing clothing. In the 1990s, the fashion house founded the Luna Rossa yachting team, allowing them to participate in the American Cup. Bertelli claims that this helped Prada prepare for this massive project today.
Prada will be focusing on the exterior of the space suit, which must support the inner layer and protect the astronaut from the harsh dust and the environment around them. The spacesuit must also allow the astronauts to move around with ease while being protected from the elements.
This won’t be a breeze for the brand to accomplish, and Prada will have to overcome obstacles since “There are these technological challenges to try to overcome as well.” says Suffredini. Bertelli knows the extent of work he has in front of him but is confident with Prada’s resources, “We have a lot of know-how in how to package fabrics together to create better mobility.”
Prada is one of many companies that have taken a turn at trying to make space chic happen. Brands like Coach and Balenciaga also took a shot at collaborating with NASA in 2017, 2018, and 2021.
These suits won’t be for astronauts’ use, but the uber-wealthy might purchase them; Virgin Galactic, for example, sent a group of tourists who paid a large amount of money to pass the Earth’s curvature with tickets ranging from around $250,000 to $450,000. Others, like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, have already shown interest in designer space suits while using their companies to send civilians to space.
Prada’s goal is also to create a suit that will fit female consumers since, in 2019, NASA decided to send an all-female team up to space but had to send in a man to replace two women since they didn’t have enough suits in the correct sizes.
It will be interesting to see how these suits turn out and how they function in space. Prada is changing how fashion is used on Earth and on the moon, proving that designer outfits can be worn anywhere. Who knows, maybe aliens will be jealous.
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