Italian luxury fashion group Prada has presented for the first time the design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, which will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission to the moon, at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan. Prada’s design team has worked closely with engineers from the American Axiom Space for many years. The fashion house has recommended materials that protect astronauts while providing visual inspiration and comfort, according to a press release sent to FashionUnited.
“Our elite teams have rethought space suit development and opened new avenues for innovative solutions, with a state-of-the-art design approach for the AxEMU,” shares Matt Ondler, President of Axiom Space. “We have broken the mold. The collaboration between Axiom Space and Prada has laid a new foundation for cross-industry collaboration and expands what is possible in commercial spaceflight.”
Lorenzo Bertelli, Chief Marketing Officer of Prada Group and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, adds: “I am extremely proud of the result we are showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term partnership with Axiom Space. We have put our expertise shared about high-quality materials, features and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot. I am sure that together we will continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons and create new scenarios.”
The spacesuit designed by Prada in collaboration with Axiom Space will reportedly be worn by astronauts on the lunar surface in 2026 during NASA’s Artemis III mission. The suit is made of a white fabric that reflects heat and protects astronauts from extreme temperatures. The patented technology remains secret.
