Is Church’s Owned by Prada?

There has been a long-standing rumor that the popular shoe brand Church’s is owned by luxury fashion house Prada. Let’s take a closer look at this rumor and see if there is any truth to it.

The History of Church’s

Firstly, let’s delve into the history of Church’s. The brand was founded in 1873 by Thomas Church and his three sons in Northamptonshire, England. Initially, they specialized in handmade men’s shoes but eventually branched out to women’s shoes as well.

Church’s quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality footwear and became popular among British aristocracy. In 1999, the brand was acquired by Prada Group, leading to speculation that Church’s was now owned by Prada.

Prada Group

Prada Group is an Italian luxury fashion house that was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada. The group owns several other luxury brands including Miu Miu, Car Shoe, and Marchesi 1824.

Is Church’s Owned by Prada?

The answer is yes – Church’s is indeed owned by Prada Group. In fact, it has been part of the group since 1999 when it was acquired for £105 million ($156 million).

Since then, there have been some changes to the brand. For example, in 2011, Church’s launched a women’s collection called “Church’s Women” which was designed by creative director Priscilla Royer.

The Impact of the Acquisition

So what impact did the acquisition have on Church’s? Some argue that it helped elevate the brand even further as it gained access to Prada Group’s resources and expertise. Others argue that it led to some changes in design direction which may not have been entirely positive.

Regardless of opinions on the matter, one thing is clear – Church’s has continued to be a popular and respected brand in the footwear industry.

Conclusion

To sum up, Church’s is indeed owned by Prada Group. The acquisition has had some impact on the brand, but it has continued to produce high-quality footwear that is loved by many. Whether or not this knowledge impacts your decision to buy Church’s shoes is up to you, but at least now you know the truth behind the rumor.