Prada of Marfa | 177 Miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A desolate ribbon of U.S. highway, deep in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert in west Texas, is probably the last place you\u2019d expect to see an outpost of an international luxury goods retailer. In fact, it\u2019s not a mirage, but an astonishingly real facsimile of a Prada store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The squat white stucco building, whose signage proudly proclaims \u201cPrada Marfa\u201d is actually an art installation, but you\u2019d be forgiven for thinking it\u2019s an actual retail outlet. Scandinavian artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset designed and built the replica Prada boutique in 2005 with the full support of Prada Group of Italy, which allowed the use of its name and provided a selection of luxury goods from its 2005 fall\/winter collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original intention of the artists was for the piece to not be maintained over the years, but rather to let it naturally degrade, eventually morphing to fit its dusty surroundings. Unfortunately, that plan was ill-fated, as the piece was vandalized and robbed the night of its completion. And that\u2019s why we can\u2019t have nice things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n