The Cult Appeal of Prada's Cleo bag

The Prada shoulder bag is a cult item, plain and simple. From the now-iconic nylon creations of the early aughts right up until the Cahiers and Sidonies of recent seasons, they are as much totems of the fashion industry as they are lightning rods of our times, a feat of pure design magic few brands have managed to achieve. 

First introduced to the world as part of Prada's Multiple Views SS21 collection, the Cleo is a direct reflection of that season's focus on distilling the house's codes down to their very essence. Minimal in appearance, it fuses the brand’s know-how and technical prowess with a distinctly modern edge. The strikingly simple shoulder bag has an almost 2-dimensional profile to it, foiled only by the elegantly curved panel that give the pieces a softly geometric appeal while being perfectly engineered to trace the female form – a subtly subversive detail as only Prada can do. That little kink at the base of the bag makes it roomy enough for essentials without having them ruin its line.

Further cementing its status as a new classic, the Cleo bag comes in a future-proof palette range of colours. Available in Mint or "Prada Acqua", classic black and white as well as a chrome finish. Vaguely 90s in spirit, the Cleo, eschews nostalgia by perfecting a familiar shape and is set to become one of those items that elicit glances from those in the know.