Prada's Partnership with Axiom Space, A Style Revolution or Safety Concern?

by Nkem Emefiele

Prada, the iconic fashion house renowned for its leather handbags, shoes, and accessories, is venturing into uncharted territory: spacesuits.

Founded in Milan in 1913 by Mario Prada, the brand is synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship.

Now, Prada is teaming up with Axiom Space, a leading provider of human space flight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure.

This collaboration stems from Axiom Space's recent $228 million contract win, propelling them to join forces with the Italian fashion giant, Prada. Their joint mission? To design spacesuits for the 2025 NASA Artemis III mission.

This event is particularly thrilling as the moon has not seen human presence in over five decades. It also marks a significant milestone in history as no woman has yet had the opportunity to set foot on the satellite.

The unexpected partnership may raise concerns about safety and design, as the responsibility of crafting NASA spacesuits now lies with Prada.

Fortunately, Prada boasts technical skills and expertise, honed through years of working with "raw materials."

They have the potential to create spacesuits that combine quality and practicality, potentially surpassing the flexibility of the suits used during the 1970s moon missions.

Surprisingly, fashion companies have a history of contributing to various fields. Prada once designed uniforms for the Italian navy in the 2000s, Burberry provided trench coats for the military during World War I, and Givenchy crafted uniforms for the French Royal Mounted police. Many fashion brands have collaborated with government forces, showcasing the diverse capabilities of the fashion industry.

Jeffrey Hoffman, a former NASA astronaut and current professor at MIT, voiced his confidence in Prada, stating, "Prada has considerable experience with various types of composite fabrics and may actually be able to make some real technical contributions to the outer layers of the new spacesuit."

So, while the idea of Prada spacesuits might seem unconventional, rest assured, there won't be any "paisley spacesuits or fancy patterns."

All will be unveiled in the Artemis III mission in 2025. Stay tuned for this unprecedented blend of fashion and space exploration.

Fashion For a Cause: Brands That Stand with Palestine and the history of fashion as a form of Activism

by Oana-Maria Moldovan For over two months, there has been an ongoing genocide war in Gaza. To simplify a long and horrific issue, the situation that started, on a larger scale, around one hundred years ago, and has only become amplified since October 7th 2023. Taking place around the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Israel–Lebanon border, the armed conflict is between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups. The problem is about “stolen” land. Said land is seen as an important holy part of both religions involved. But really, how holy can we consider a land to be, if people kill other people for it? It’s important to remember that this genocide is about three things: forced occupation, zionism, and religion. It’s also important to remember what ethnic erasure is. This terrible expresion, also known as cultural or ethnic assimilation, refers to the process by which the distinct cultural or ethnic identity of a particular group is gradually diminished or erased, often due to ext

‘Make Tattooing Safe Again’: Sheffield Based Tattoo Artist Exposed for Indecent Behaviour

by Emily Fletcher TW: SA, Animal Abuse, Transphobia Photo Credit: @ meiko_akiz uki Recently, an Instagram account has been created to provide a ‘space to safely give a voice to those who want to speak out about the behaviour of one, Sheffield based tattoo artist’. A total of 40+ posts have been made by the above social media account regarding one of Sheffield's most popular tattoo artists . Thankfully, all posts are prefaced with a Content Warning prior to sharing screenshots of the messages that have been sent anonymously to the page. The majority of Content Warnings refer to sexual behaviour, abuse, and sexual assault. It is clear that there is a reoccurring theme within each submission, as many clients appear to have had the same experiences with the tattoo artist. Women, mostly, are being made to feel uncomfortable while being tattooed. One of the most vulnerable positions anyone can be in, tattoo artists should make their clients feel comfortable and safe during the pro

Now What? The Aftermath of the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl'

by Susan Moore Here is a bit about me: I am an open, excitable, creative AFAB who is also moderately attractive. I have a unique sense of personal style and a personality that on the surface can only be described as “bubbly” and “quirky”. For this reason, dating is a nightmare. To be sure, I do not have a hard time finding dates or potential suitors. The problems arise when said dates spend some time with me and decide that I am a rare specimen, and the connection they feel with me is “unlike anything they have felt before”. Then, things go one of two ways. Either a) they decide I am too high maintenance and no longer palatable, or b) they choose to never look further than the surface and are content to date the idea of me rather than the real me. There is something rather interesting, perhaps funny, about my situation. It is in no way unique. I have met so many people who constantly dealt with the same problem. Even funnier still, is the fact that there is a trope that simultaneousl

Darling Magazine

Search This Blog