MP: There are many different ways of looking at this. The first is that people are afraid to talk about fashion. Because it touches on your intimate [nature]: you have to talk about yourself, your body, even your vulnerabilities…I’ve spent my life asking myself why fashion is considered so cheap and trivial in so many ways. This is one of the reasons. Another depends on how you position yourself in politics. However, I have always banned myself from talking about politics in public. Because being a rich fashion designer makes me uncomfortable. Maybe I’m wrong, but I still feel uncomfortable.
Vogue: Yes, but you are also a citizen.
MP: I know. In fact, I’m not sure if I’m right or wrong. But [for politics], you have to be free. Because if I were to start sharing my thoughts on a subject, people would say…
Vogue: Is this hypocrisy?
MP: Aha!
RS: But don’t you think that perception has changed? Because fashion has become so democratic?
MP: Democracy, yes. and no. it depends. Because with fast fashion…it depends on how you position yourself in the fashion chain. We are in the expensive section at Prada. There is nothing wrong with that. But when people don’t talk about fashion, I think it’s because they don’t want to talk about their bodies, their problems, their fantasies.
RS
: Assuming you go back to the end of s or 1980s early days: If you were in a family where your father was a politician and your son or daughter wanted to be a fashion designer, [this would have been ] ‘My God! shame! shame! shame! ‘.
MP: I’m ashamed of myself…
RS: But things have changed now. Sometimes I feel like every parent wants their kid to be a fashion designer. Because, ‘Oh my God! That’s like a lot of money! ‘.
MP: Maybe, but whatever: I’m old and I’m ashamed of all my life, Only a little less now. Because with the money I make, I can do some things – Fondazione, many things. But that’s my mindset: I’m not saying I’m right. A lot of people tell me I’m not…
RS: It’s not right or wrong. I just think [fashion] has evolved, for better and for worse. This leads to another question. Because at the same time, you can also think of fashion as something that used to be considered “ewww” by most people. But [at the same time], fashion itself is so elitist. Now I think it has shifted. I don’t know what I think – was it better then or is it better now. Like you said, Miuccia, I don’t know if I’m right or wrong. I think both periods have their own problems and advantages.
Fashion : Raff, you’re in a completely unique position in fashion because you’re the creative director of a house, working hand-in-hand with the creative writers of that house.
