Models Anne Floor Wetemans [aka Anne Floor] and Betsy Gaghan pose in ‘La Scuola Prada’, a cohesive fashion story focused on the intellectual mindset of Miuccia Prada as revealed in ongoing examinations by fashion media of the Prada archives.

Creative directors Mathias Augustyniak & Michael Amzalag [M/M (Paris) team up with stylist Joe McKenna and photographer Jamie Hawkesworth [IG]

Prada is one of fashion’s most intellectual luxury brand voices, with a decades-long track record that appeals to brainiacs. What is taken for granted when speaking of the Prada mothership is also a persistent, lucid voice in MiuMiu — even if that voice takes itself very seriously in one campaign and quietly derides it in the next one.

After all, Miuccia Prada is a clever woman, one of the few claims commanding nearly-universal agreement in the fashion universe.

The release of Prada’s latest campaign focused on the Galleria handbag on the creative arms of actor Scarlett Johansson and director/filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos underscores just how far Prada is willing to go in the marriage of fashion and culture.

Too Serious or Insightful?

Some may accuse AOC of being far too serious in probing the creative clay foundation of Galleria.

I ask you, then, to explain to readers why the campaign is front and center in this weekend’s second iteration of “Prada Galleria Invites,” a celebration of its iconic Galleria bag and its latest campaign created by the breakthrough director Yorgos Lanthimos.

[Note: sorry that you can’t explain anything on AOC. American right-wingers, the Russian NRA in a country not permitting gun ownership, and Muslim intellectuals in Morocco shut down comments on AOC 15 years ago. They are in touch with me, however.]

No, this exciting Prada event is not happening in Europe, as fashion honchos leave New York and head to London for a quick stop before flying south to Milan and a new Prada-runway reveal.

Think China. And Rong Zhai

Prada has injected this creative examination into a weekend event at the brand’s four-story Rong Zhai, a restored historical mansion blending Art Deco and Chinese motifs in downtown Shanghai. The cultural center has been transformed into a cinematic villa that moves beyond a focus on the current creative collaboration between Johansson and Lanthimos.

The weekend features open-air screenings at night, titles include Yorgos Lanthimos’ ‘The Lobster,’ Chen Kaige’s ‘Farewell My Concubine’ and Jan Němec’s ‘Diamonds of the Night.’ Shanghai Theatre Academy’s globally-known professor Shi Chuan has penned an article that delves into Rong Zhai’s ties to the world of film. Indeed, this event is a thoughtful offering for the local cinephiles, one that resonates far deeper than ‘lip service’ to China’s creatives.

As one of Prada’s bestsellers, the Galleria bag does command its own attention and focus at this second ‘Prada Gallery Invites’. Italian craftsmen will be on site to offer live demonstration of the production process, to facilitate Galleria personalization orders and also offer leather care services.

Is the Prada Galleria a Totem? A Work of Art?

The Prada Galleria bag employs an intricate hot-pressing process, while raw edges are smoothed and hand-painted to match.

Is it a totem? A work of art? Perhaps in the future, Prada can invite the spirit voice of Swiss psychiatrist, psychologist, and psychotherapist Carl Jung to weigh in on why Prada’s Galleria Bag is — or isn’t — a totem of 21st century civilization and not a marketing ploy.

AOC is sold . . . on the level of sophistication employed by Prada in this entire Fall 2025 Galleria Bag campaign. 5-star impressive. We will circle back on the Shanghai weekend experience at Rong Zhai. ~ Anne