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Anatomy of a Classic: The Prada Galleria

Anatomy of a Classic: The Prada Galleria

By Swedan Margen

Style

It debuted in 2007, but the Prada Galleria bag’s story really begins in 1913, when Mario Prada opened his first boutique, in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. Nearly a century later inspiration struck his granddaughter Miuccia Prada, who saw It bag potential in the historic landmark, employing a structured silhouette to echo the arcade’s architecture and curved handles to evoke the iron and glass dome ceiling.

The Galleria has been reinterpreted each season since, color blocked or embellished, covered in canvas or bordered in western-style stitches. Now add dévoré to the list. French for “devoured,” the technique was deployed for the latest iteration of the bag, introduced on the fall 2026 runway. And as is the case with most of Mrs. Prada’s innovations, it is far more complex an endeavor than it seems.

The process starts with rough-cut leather hides that artisans work by hand, removing choice sections to create a weathered, eroded appearance. The leather is then bonded onto wool to give the illusion of an exposed lining, with patches of herringbone tweed poking through the fragmented façade. The result is not only another singular accessory but also, we’d argue, an invitation for deeper philosophical inquiry. At the very least, it will be a great conversation starter.

Prada Galleria bag ($6,400), prada.com

Close-up of a damaged leather bag showing frayed edges and a gold zipper detail.

Allie Holloway

The Prada Galleria has been a house signature since 2007. For fall 2026 Miuccia Prada gave the bag a new finish known as dévoré, which aptly means “devoured” in French.

Close-up of brown leather and herringbone fabric texture with visible stitching and wear.

Allie Holloway

The bag’s clean geometry is softened with irregular textures and raw, organic edges, while the contrast between smooth leather and woven wool creates a tactile finish.

Brown leather interior of a bag featuring a gold Prada label.

Allie Holloway

The design is named after Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the soaring shopping arcade where Mario Prada opened his first store, in 1913.

Close-up of a textured leather tag with a triangular pattern against a brown background.

Allie Holloway

Deep brown leather, herringbone wool, and polished gold hardware combine to give the exterior a distinctly modern feel.

Photographs by Allie Holloway
Fashion & Accessories Director: Dania Lucero Ortiz
Set Design by Marina Bevilacqua

This story appears in the October 2026 issue of Town & Country.

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Carly Witteman is Town & Country’s Associate Fashion Editor, covering luxury style, jewelry and timepieces, beauty, and arts and culture while styling various photoshoots and projects for print. You can find her on Instagram at @carlymaewitteman, where she’s probably posting about a Broadway show, her new favorite pair of shoes, or her current read.

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Originally published by townandcountrymag.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Grazia British.

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Anatomy of a Classic: The Prada Galleria | Grazia British