That’s Strange: Ever Came Across A Prada Store In A Desert?

What? Are you kidding me??

That’s exactly how I reacted the first time someone asked me this. After all, the last thing you’d expect in a desert would be a fashion store. And that too, something as big as Prada!

Imagine driving along a rusty desert road where humans are less likely to be spotted, let alone sights. And suddenly out of nowhere, as if someone had created an illusion just for you in the middle of the desert, you come across a Prada store with an absolutely gorgeous-looking collection. Isn’t that strange?

 

 

Located on the US Highway 90 from West Texas, in the quaint little town of Valentine, is the bizarre genius of artists Elmgreen and Dragset. Stranded in a desert, this art installation has been permanently sculpted as a ‘pop architectural land project’ in the city of Marfa, Texas.

An Arty Touch to a Desert…

Created in October 2005, this art project was kick-started by the artists’ duo to propagate anti-consumerism. Showcasing Prada’s 2005 fall/ winter merchandise, the shoes and handbags displayed here have been handpicked by the fashionista herself, Miuccia Prada. With a non-functioning door, the store was initially constructed from biodegradable material so that it would eventually melt back into Earth causing no harm to the environment.

 

 

However, vandalism struck a few days later when the store was looted of almost 40 handbags and other Prada goods, leaving behind a graffiti of ‘Dum Dum’, painted on either sides of the structure. Undeterred, Elmgreen and Dragset willingly repaired and recreated the store. But this time they were cautious. The Prada Marfa store was heavily alarmed and strong glass was used for the front windows to prevent forced entry. In fact, the handbags that are displayed inside the store do not have bottoms and the shoe collection is all right-footed.

Come One, Come All

Today, this lesser-known highway route is taken by thousands of visitors including music icon Beyonce. And during night, the only lights visible in the otherwise gloomy strip of the desert artexase that of the Prada store. Some people also believe that this store is actually a deception, conceived by aliens who aim to attract people during the night… but no concrete evidence has been found.

 

Last month (September 2014), officials from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have stated that this arty structure will soon be considered a museum with Prada being the only display brand.

Prada: Fifty Years From Now…

Now, won’t it be interesting to see how the Prada collection would eventually evolve. As time will pass by, the Prada Marfa store would stand as a testimony to time. Who knows, it might become one of the ruins, fifty years from now! Well, only time will tell…