Prada’s Fashionable Foray into Space Gear with Axiom Space

The crew chosen for NASA’s Artemis III mission will be embarking on their journey to the moon with a new look, courtesy of Prada. On a recent Sunday morning, Prada held an event in its SoHo store in Manhattan to unveil the new Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (L.C.V.G.), developed in collaboration with Axiom Space.

This innovative garment will be worn by astronauts beneath their Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit during lunar missions. It reflects the partnership between Axiom Space and the Italian fashion house, which began in 2023. Prada’s proprietary L.C.V.G. is a stretchy, gray onesie incorporating yarns with titanium. The design features stirrup pants and black tubes that extend from the shoulders to contour the arms, waist, and outer thighs.

The suit design involves built-in tunnels that house tubes for cooling water circulation, resembling anatomical topography. This version diverges from traditional L.C.V.G.s, which resembled plain long underwear with tubes added. Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada’s chief marketing officer, humorously compared it to ‘comfortable pajamas.’ The new design, however, could fit right in with superhero costumes.

The event featured drinks and a presentation stage set amidst Prada’s luxurious merchandise. Jonathan Cirtain, CEO of Axiom Space, commented on the suit’s aesthetic appeal, a trait rarely associated with space clothing. The L.C.V.G. was shown alongside the AxEMU spacesuit, highlighting the collaboration’s achievements.