Milan Fashion Week (MFW) concluded on Monday 27 February, leaving everyone feeling satisfied and upbeat. The Italian fashion capital hosted 165 exciting appointments, including fashion shows, presentations, and events from 21-27 February. The event experienced a significant increase in attendance, creating a positive and energetic atmosphere. This year’s Milan Fashion Week centered on themes of creativity, sustainability, education, and innovation, strongly emphasizing traditional craftsmanship.
One of the most exciting new features of this edition was the location of the Fashion Hub at Palazzo Giureconsulti, a historic building in Piazza dei Mercanti, inaugurated on Tuesday 21 February. The new headquarters of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana showcased emerging brands and provided valuable opportunities for visibility, networking, and business growth. The Fashion Hub was open for the entire MFW and attendees could watch the fashion shows on a large screen. Another big screen was provided by Samsung in Piazza Duomo. As in previous seasons, Camera della Moda made it possible for everyone to experience Milan Fashion Week digitally by providing an online platform to access all the event’s content. This offered global coverage of the event and ensured that fashion enthusiasts worldwide could follow along with the latest trends and shows. Emmy award-winning director John Maggio premiered his new documentary film, “MILANO: The Inside Story of Italian Fashion, ” to close out the physical calendar of Fashion Week.”
Two important events outside the official dates of MFW are worth noting. The first is the inaugural “Changemakers in Luxury Fashion” event on 28 March 2023. Organized by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in collaboration with Zalando, this event will celebrate Changemakers committed to driving positive change within the fashion industry. The second event is a workshop “Fashion & Sustainability: Industry Insights Breakfast” on 4 April 2023, hosted by Launchmetrics.
Back to the fashion shows; the array of impressive names and brands left their mark. Prada and Raf Simons presented a collection centered around the theme of the uniform, with winning garments and accessories, such as origami ballerinas and the “sciura” bags, featured on the catwalk. The Rotterdam studio OMA/AMO designed a spectacular set with thousands of lilies handing from the ceiling, creating an overpowering perfume. Dolce&Gabbana found its identity again with the archive operation + Kim Kardashian, now also the brand’s testimonial. Armani redefined the catwalk where the model recreated small real-life scenes. Fendi impressed with neutral tones and styling tricks, including the jumper knotted at the neck. Versace was absent from the autumn/winter 2023/2024 edition and chose to show up in Los Angeles on the 10th of March off the calendar.
Fashion Week has evolved beyond just a catwalk and is now a combination of physical and digital events. Sustainability and inclusion are also important focuses. The fashion show is a significant marketing investment for fashion companies and contributes to the city of Milan’s turnover. The legal aspect plays a crucial role in the success of a fashion show. Numerous contracts need to be drafted and understood, ranging from model agencies to video, audio, and lighting operators. Copyright is also a major concern, as brand collaborations with artists must be carefully regulated to protect the brand’s interests and prevent counterfeiting and other intellectual property issues. Therefore, a greater focus on legal issues in fashion is necessary. Luiss offers a Master’s degree in Fashion Law to create professionals in this field.
Written by Valentina Rainone, CFO presso Wolford.