One small step for women, one giant leap for this fashion house.
The first woman to step foot on the moon will wear designer duds — a Prada spacesuit, to be exact.
A “next-gen spacesuit,” which was unveiled Wednesday morning at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, is as chic as the bulky, white ensemble can be and is outfitted with technologically advanced features to protect astronauts and allow for optimal performance.
The “Extravehicular Mobility Unit” — the technical name for the spacesuit — was designed by Prada, in partnership with Axiom Space, for NASA’s Artemis III mission.
Takeoff is slated to be the first human moon landing since 1972 and could launch as soon as 2026.
“We have broken the mold,” Matt Ondler, the president of Axiom Space, said in a statement. “The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space.”
However, don’t expect the “unit” to be emblazoned with a Prada logo.
According to Vogue, that is noticeably absent from the stark white ensembles — the only hint of the fashion house requires onlookers to be in the know.
The suit features stripes of red, seemingly a nod to the brand’s red markings on the uniforms made for the America’s Cup sailing team, Red Moonwhich translates to “Red Moon,” according to the outlet.
The suit — which has undergone rigorous testing and is near completion — was designed with both style and utility in mind, protecting astronauts from the treacherous lunar atmosphere while also “visually inspire future exploration,” per the press release. It features “an aesthetically appealing white outer layer” crafted with “innovative sewing methods” to be comfortable yet built for optimal performance.
It can withstand the freezing temperatures of the moon for at least two hours and endure eight-hour space walks while also featuring life support systems, pressure garments and more that “meet exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities.”
“Partnering with Axiom Space has been an unprecedented journey,” Lorenzo Bertelli, the chief marketing officer and head of corporate responsibility for Prada, told Vogue.
“I am particularly proud of our teams who have worked to provide tailor-made solutions to increase astronauts’ comfort and flexibility.”
The Artemis III mission — which will transport the first woman and person of color to the surface of the moon — plans to land moonwalkers near the lunar South Pole, and is just one expedition in the program’s plan to explore the moon “in a way we never have before,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a previous statement.
As the space agency plans for more voyages into outer space, the team at Prada is also planning for a starry future and has proposed a “new weaving processes with high-performance yarns or near-seamless production that could become interesting future solutions for the spacesuits team to consider,” Bertelli told Vogue.
“We are pioneering a new era in space exploration where partnerships are imperative to the commercialization of space,” Russell Ralston, the executive vice president of extravehicular activity of Axiom Space, said in a statement.
“Partnerships build a strong, cohesive team, enabling industry experts to provide cutting-edge technology, specialized products and services to drive innovation. For the first time, we are leveraging expertise in other industries to craft a better solution for space.”
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