Prada is selling a $400 money clip

Prada is merchandising a $400 (₹33,540) money clip.

The Italian luxury fashion house, founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, is selling a silver paper-clip-shaped money holder that is 6.25 cm long and 2.25 cm wide. It was originally launched by the brand in 2017 for $185 (₹15,380) and is now back on top of their website following their recent fall/winter menswear show in Milan.

While the price of the product is staggering, it relays the trust that the brand has in the idea that there is a market for it. Recent years have seen an undeniable surge in seemingly low-function products sold at exorbitant prices. In December 2016, Nordstrom, an American luxury department store chain headquartered in Seattle, sold out of a leather-wrapped rock priced at $85 (₹7,066).

In 2017, a blue tote bag from Balenciaga, a brand more recently under fire for ad campaigns featuring children holding teddy bears in bondage harnesses and costumes, went on sale for $2,145 (₹1,79,080) – over 2,145 times the price of Ikea’s 99-cent bag that looked remarkably similar.

Perhaps the most notable of them all is the notorious red brick sold by Supreme, a clothing and skateboarding lifestyle brand established in New York City, for $30 (₹2,494). Appealing to collectors and fans of the brand, it claimed to be made of high-quality red clay and served as a statement piece that added a touch of Supreme’s signature style to any space.

Crafted in Milan, the silver-tone money clip from Prada features an engraved logo and has people sharing their opinions on it all over the internet. While most reactions are of astonishment, there is no doubt there is a small portion of society that is going to indulge in the accessory.

Prada has a history of making products that combine luxury with utility, leading to successful results. With over 33 million followers on Instagram and a history of influential brand ambassadors such as Hunter Schafer, Scarlett Johansson, Leticia Wright, Jaehyun, and most recently Troye Sivan, the fashion house has pioneered with its vision for more than a century and continues to do so.

The accessories at Milan Fashion Week F/W 2024 that complemented the brand’s collection presented by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons were hats that resembled a Speedo swimming cap and chunky, angular waist belts.