In October 2023, a partnership was announced between Prada and the American aerospace company Axiom Space to create next-generation NASA spacesuits for the Artemis III mission, which will be the first crewed lunar landing since December 1972. This collaboration resulted in the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a revolutionary spacesuit representing the first major overhaul of NASA's astronaut gear in over 20 years. The final design of the AxEMU suit was officially unveiled in October 2024.
On June 7, 2026, Axiom Space and Prada officially debuted the component specifically developed by the fashion house: the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), an internal cooling and ventilation suit that astronauts wear directly against their skin beneath the main AxEMU suit. Here is what Prada’s engineers and designers specifically contributed:
1. Thermoregulation system: The suit features an extensive network of tubes through which cold water circulates around the astronaut’s body to prevent overheating.
2. Ventilation system: This ensures the supply of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide within the spacesuit.
3. Advanced materials: Prada applied its technical expertise in engineered knitwear, advanced textiles, and innovative design concepts.
4. 3D modeling: The garment was created using sophisticated 3D modeling technologies to ensure a perfect fit and comfort, allowing it to adapt to various astronaut body types.
5. A small stylish detail: One sleeve features the signature red stripe from Prada’s activewear line, adding a distinct aesthetic touch.
How did a fashion house end up in a NASA project? Axiom Space, a private contractor, selected Prada as an exclusive partner while seeking unique competencies outside the traditional aerospace industry. The following factors supported the company’s selection:
Prada has worked for decades with high-performance fabrics designed to withstand extreme stresses.
Prada possesses unique know-how in engineered knitwear, creating textile structures with specific functional properties.
Prada has extensive experience in what high fashion calls a "bespoke fit"—a custom-tailored approach that, in the context of a spacesuit, translates to comfort during hours of continuous wear.
Prada is one of the few fashion houses that systematically invests in materials Research and Development (R&D) rather than focusing solely on design.
Prada utilizes advanced manufacturing techniques that allow for the creation of complex, multi-layered structures with maximum precision, which is critical for the LCVG where every seam and tube must be perfectly airtight.
While traditional NASA suppliers like Collins Aerospace and ILC Dover have vast experience in spacesuit construction, Axiom Space sought a breakthrough in ergonomics and comfort rather than just protection. Previous spacesuits were often plagued by limited mobility, discomfort, and overheating. Prada, a company that has spent decades solving the problem of how to make clothing move comfortably with the body while refining design, pattern making, and advanced materials, provided exactly that expertise.
Today, any news related to the mission receives massive global coverage. Prada is leveraging this moment to associate its brand with one of the most significant events in human history. The LCVG is a component that translates perfectly to a visual medium like Instagram. It looks like high-tech athletic gear, which aligns closely with Prada’s aesthetic and its core audience.
Beyond the immediate marketing advantages, this project allows Prada to transcend the fashion world and establish itself as a company operating at the cutting edge of technology. This success opens doors for future endeavors: having proven its capabilities in the aerospace industry, Prada can now be trusted to collaborate with other tech companies on high-performance sportswear, medical apparel, and protective gear for extreme conditions.
This collaboration goes far beyond just creating a spacesuit; it marks the overcoming of traditional industry barriers. For the first time in the history of space exploration, expertise in fashion design has been recognized as critical to solving complex engineering challenges. Prada has proven that decades of work with ergonomics, high-performance materials, and custom fitting can address problems that traditional aerospace contractors could not. This paves the way for future collaborations between industries that once seemed incompatible.
Finally, there is a profound symbolism in the fact that the first woman and the first person of color will set foot on the moon in gear developed with the help of an Italian fashion house. This serves as proof that in the 21st century, the most complex challenges are not solved in isolation, but through unity and global cooperation.
