The evening began with continuing rumors of an imminent Prada IPO: So important has China become to the luxury-goods market that some thought an announcement would be made at the event (it wasn’t). With business matters shunted aside, attention focused on the label’s Spring collections as models Arizona Muse, Fei Fei Sun, and Clement Chabernaud moseyed past front-row guests including actresses Gong Li and Maggie Cheung.
Prada Runway in BeijingAs always with Prada, glamour came in haute-culture garb. Among the other revelers packing the museum’s soaring atrium were top Chinese artists Xu Bing and 2010 Hugo Boss Prize finalist Cao Fei, as well as architects Yung Ho Chang and Ma Yansong. Even the entertainment was cast with a brainy bent. “They’re a great myth,” a beaming Miuccia Prada said of the Pet Shop Boys as Neil Tennant broke into “Suburbia” onstage. “They’re deep, pop intellectuals.”
Prada Runway in BeijingThe event was star-studded. With Gong Li, Maggie Cheung, Cecilia Cheung and Tang Wei in attendance, the runway event was electrifying. Held at the Central Academy of Fine Arts museum, the event was well covered by both global and the Chinese media.
Prada Runway in BeijingAlready the world’s fastest-growing market for luxury goods, it is forecast to be the world’s top market of apparel and beauty products by 2015.
Prada Runway in BeijingPrada has announced it is planning for another 30 stores in China and looks set to have 45 stores in the country by end 2012.
Prada Runway in BeijingRumoured to be considering a possible listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, it will be opening a design studio in Hong Kong.
