Inflatable Stool by Prada

Behind the setup of a fashion show lies a lengthy, complex and nerve-wracking process. The end result is the extract, the essence, the show, light and flowing, perfectly staged and with a big wow effect for the audience - these are Miuccia Prada's fashion shows.

Fashion naturally played the leading role at the Prada Men's Fashion Show Spring 2019. This time, however, the literally most important supporting role was played by an inflatable stool, the Inflatable Stool. Based on a design by Danish designer Verner Panton from the 1950s, the Inflatable Stool was first produced in a small series in the 1960s. This time, too, it was produced in a signed small series exclusively for Prada. Made of transparent plastic, the inflatable stool revealed the Prada logo, designer Verner Panton's signature and the Verpan logo.

Aligned according to a coordinate system, the Inflatable Stools were lined up in a row in Prada's imposing production hall in Milan. The inflatable stools looked like clouds of nothing. Their transparency made the huge industrial backdrop appear even more imposing, yes even magnificent. American Vogue once described a Prada fashion show as "a particularly fiendish crossword puzzle never to be solved." The Inflatable Stool rows supported this apt description. Accurately arranged, the inflatable stools looked like boxes whose solution demanded the correct sequence of letters.

The Inflatable Stool by Designer Verner Panton as a symbol of POP (popular) art stands for the discovery of new materials. The use of flexible materials such as plastic made it possible to design furniture outside previously known boundaries. The 1960s are synonymous with the great departure, the urge for independence and flexibility. The Inflatable Stool gives shape to this maxim. Lightweight, quick to stow away without air, easy to take anywhere and, of course, comfortable - these are the advantages of the inflatable stool. However, as the production methods in the 1960s were not quite as limitless as the material, the Inflatable Stool was not produced for long in Panton's day.

The Inflatable Stool fell into oblivion and has now been rediscovered and revived by Prada. Just like the Cloverleaf Sofa years earlier, also by Panton and also forgotten until Prada had it built for its flagship stores around the world and upholstered in Prada green velour. The Cloverleaf sofa is now available again and can be configured at design specialist TAGWERC. The Inflatable Stool will also be back.
Soon. Very soon. If you are interested, we will be happy to make a note of you.

The setup of fashion shows and the development of furniture sometimes have something in common. Behind this is a lengthy, complex and nerve-wracking process at the end of which the extract, the essence, the show is created - light and flowing, perfectly staged and with a great wow effect for the audience.