Breaking Barriers in Streetwear

Streetwear has historically been a male-dominated space, but Prantera has consistently defied these conventions. Since co-founding Aries, she has demonstrated that streetwear is for everyone and that creative leadership should not be confined by gender. By building a strong and inclusive brand, she has given women a space to express themselves freely. Aries blends high fashion with underground style, making women not just part of the story, but the focus.

Inspiration in Chaos: Subcultures, Micro-Trends, and the Digital Age

Prantera’s designs are inspired by the world around her, mixing classic influences, counterculture, and street energy. Aries is built on the idea of reworking and repurposing ideas, materials, and symbols to create something new. While fashion today is driven by fast-changing trends, Aries stays true to its identity, avoiding internet aesthetics. Gen Z’s love for ‘cores’ like normcore and gorpcore has shaped fashion, but Prantera follows her instincts, not algorithms. She understands that subcultures have changed in the digital age – what was once underground is now everywhere online. Aries finds a balance, staying connected to niche influences while reaching a new digital generation.

Sustainability and Resistance Against Waste

From the beginning, Aries has embraced an ethos of repurposing and reimagining. The brand’s graphic identity featuring classical ruins, discarded elements, and broken columns speaks to the idea of rebuilding from the past. In a world of overproduction and waste, Prantera is mindful of fashion’s impact. Aries isn’t a sustainability-first brand, but its focus on limited releases, reworked designs, and rejecting mass production pushed back against fast fashion’s throwaway culture.

Empowering the Next Generation

As Aries grows, so does its impact. For Prantera, success isn’t just about making popular collections – its about building a creative community. Her upcoming book, launching this year, will share her journey, inspirations, and philosophy. As an art school graduate, she values unconventional paths and hopes to inspire young women to make their mark in the industry without compromise. International Women’s Day celebrates women who break barriers, challenge norms, and inspire others. Sofia Prantera is one of them. With Aries, she hasn’t just built a brand - she’s created a movement that champions self-expression, reinvention, and fearless creativity. At Maha Amsterdam, we honour her vision, her influence, and the unapologetic individuality that Aries stands for.

Talent: Susan van der Laan