Prada: 70% off!

The Prada Store in Tuscany

Among inveterate travelers to Italy, there is a tale of the mythological Prada Outlet, where you can get Prada clothing direclty from the factory at up to 70% off.

This is no myth.

It is real.

But it is not easy to find.

I live on Fifth Avenue in New York, so the Prada Store is my neighborhood clothing joint.  And while I love their stuff, it is not cheap.  

So when I heard about the Prada discount store in Italy, just outside of Florence, I thought it was worth an exploratory trip.

You can find plenty of information about it online, just google Prada Outlet Montevarchi, (that’s the town that it’s in).

But even when it gives you the address, it is still not so easy to find.

SPACE (Prada Outlet)
Tel + 39 055 91 90
Località Levanells
52025 Montevarchi

We plugged this into our GPS and followed the directions carefully. The GPS took us to the town of Montevarchi, then directed us down a small concrete road which became a dirt road which became a dirt path.  

We should have known we had made a mistake by the number of cars passing us (and the road is really narrow) going in the other direction.  They had all made our mistake as well.

Back on the main road in Montevarchi, the trick is to ignore the GPS and head out of town.  Just as you are leaving Montevarchi, you will see a plain concrete series of warehouses on your left.  There is a single sign that says SPACE.  

That’s it.

 

As I said, it is not easy to spot. But that’s what it looks like.

You have to drive around and park in the back.

The place opens at 10:30 am, sharp, and there are already lots of people waiting for the doors to open.

It’s first come, first serve, and they have a number system to limit the number of people who can get in at any given time.

The store also does not guarantee what they carry. It can be anything, but it’s a lot. It’s also whatever they are offering, so once it is gone, it is gone.  Get there early. By noon, most of the good stuff is long gone.

When you come into the store, you register with the desk and they give you a number. Whatever you want to buy after that, simply show it to a sales clerk and tell them your number and they’ll put it away for you, to be collected when you cash out. In that respect, it’s a bit like B&H Photo. But the similarity ends there.

Checkout shot on my blackberry. They’re not keen on video cameras there.

If Prada is not your thing, on the way back to Florence, you can also stop at The Mall. (clever it is not).

The Mall is a very American looking shopping mall plunked down in the midst of the Tuscan countryside, and it, like the Prada store, boast a string of discount outlets for brands ranging from Gucci to Ferragamo to Armani, and all things Italian. Prices likewise are in the range of 40% to 70% off retail.

The address for The Mall is:  

THE  MALL
Tel + 39 055 8657 775  FAX 39 055 865 7801
Via Europa 8
50060 Leccio Regello
Info@design-management.it
Mom. – Sat. 10am – 8pm   Sun. 3pm – 7pm

In our house we have an expression:  
Think Yiddish, Act British… Dress Italian.