The news of the day is without a doubt adidas and Prada’s coming together to release two more colorways of the critically acclaimed A+P Luna Rossa ‘21, one a blacked-out iteration and then a performance-centered grey edition. The grey pair, limited to only 200 pairs, was worn by the Max Sirena-led Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Sailing team in the 36th America’s Cup, featuring a hydrophobic coating on the upper as well as ventilation holes in the midsole for water to drain through.
Speaking on the collaborative product, captain Sirena said “People underestimate the importance of footwear, but in reality, shoes are key, because you spend most of the time on your feet. When you’re sailing this type of boat and you’re going at 50 knots (60mph), to maneuver from one side to the other, you need good grip.”
“The shoes need to be light, and they need to stay dry,” continues Sirena. “We went through several sampling stages of the shoe. The most important part is the sole, for two reasons: for the grip, and because it needs to let water out. Our boats are like a washing machine.”
The pair comes as the perfect clash of form and function, with the sailing team more than satisfied with their product as well as general consumers with the shoe’s aesthetic.
With the shoe’s release, we ought to look back at the formative years of the Luna Rossa initiative, which first came about as a result of collaboration between Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli and Argentine yacht designer German Frers, who initially spoke of creating a Prada-branded cruising yacht. Out of the blue, Frers asks “Why don’t we consider the America’s Cup? Let’s challenge for the America’s Cup!”
Formed from nothing, the crew and core group is set up in a matter of days, embarking for a challenge that would eventually be ingrained in Prada’s identity. Three years later, Luna Rossa won the Louis Vuitton Cup in New Zealand – this was the first time an Italian skipper had reached the final stage of the America’s Cup, with the Francesco de Angelis-led crew winning 38 of 49 regattas.
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