EXCLUSIVE: Benedict Cumberbatch, Letitia Wright Feature in Prada Re-Nylon 2026 Campaign

MILAN — Benedict Cumberbatch and Letitia Wright head into the wild for the latest Prada Re-Nylon ad campaign.

The two actors traveled alongside National Geographic CreativeWorks and the Italian brand to far-flung destinations to spotlight the new-gen Re-Nylon iteration of Prada’s signature material — which Miuccia Prada brought into the luxury realm in the ‘70s, presenting her first nylon bags.

Introduced in 2019, Re-Nylon is a fully circular textile, a regenerated alternative to the virgin material produced via depolymerization and re-polymerization processes of plastics collected worldwide from landfills, textile fiber waste and the oceans.

Since 2023, all Re-Nylon products, comprising accessories and ready-to-wear, have benefited Sea Beyond, Prada’s ocean literacy and education project launched in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, or UNESCO-IOC. One percent of all proceeds from the sale of Re-Nylon products is allocated to the project.

“With the Prada Re-Nylon collection, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the Sea Beyond project, continuing to promote ocean literacy among younger generations. We firmly believe that education and awareness are fundamental drivers of long-term change, and that fashion can play an active and responsible role in this process,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s head of corporate social responsibility.

“At the same time, through the collaboration with our partner Aquafil, the Re-Nylon components of the new collection can be recycled again at the end of life back to their original purity, without downcycling, telling the story of a project that preserves the integrity and the value of the original fabric,” Bertelli said.

Alongside images shot by National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale, the campaign comprises two documentary films by National Geographic CreativeWorks, Prada’s partner for the Re-Nylon storytelling since 2019, shot in Oahu, Hawaii, and the Izu Peninsula and the city of Kamakura, Japan.

The first documentary bowing Wednesday is set in the latter destination and features British actor Cumberbatch — best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes in the TV series “Sherlock,” and leading roles such as Khan in “Star Trek Into Darkness” and Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. He returns to the Prada Re-Nylon campaign for the third time in a row, having already appeared in the 2024 and 2025 iterations.

In the film, the actor joins photojournalist, documentary photographer, and Sea Beyond goodwill ambassador Elisabetta Zavoli to explore the Izu Peninsula coastal strip teeming with marine life and located just a two-hour drive from Tokyo.

“I’ve always found solace being in nature and to me diving is a special kind of immersion,” Cumberbatch says in the documentary before scuba diving off the coasts of the peninsula and meeting a sea turtle, among other marine creatures.  

The documentary then introduces Sakana-kun, a renowned Japanese ichthyologist, professor and artist who has launched his namesake Exploration Team project, to enroll elementary school students for workshops and educational sessions, including beach cleaning activities, designed to educate them on marine and ocean life.

The Sakana-kun Exploration Team is among the projects supported by Prada’s Sea Beyond.

The second installment of the documentary, shot in Oahu, Hawaii, and featuring Wright, a Prada ambassador, is to bow on March 27.

Introduced concurrently with the launch of the Re-Nylon collection crafted from Aquafil’s Econyl recycled nylon, Sea Beyond has grown its scope and reach in the past seven years, reflecting Prada Group’s commitment to culture at large, in addition to environmental sustainability.

As reported, last year the Prada Group created the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Connecting People and Ocean in collaboration with UNESCO, in a first-of-its-kind initiative furthering the activities of the Sea Beyond project.

Prada Group has pledged an initial contribution of 2 million euros toward the trust fund, which will open to additional financial contributors and partners in due course.