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Donatella Versace, Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen on the catwalk at Versace Spring 2028 show
Donatella Versace, Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen on the catwalk at Versace Spring 2028 show Davide Maestri/WWD

Milan Fashion Week 

Milan Fashion Week is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks alongside New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks. Spring collections are historically shown in September, while fall collections are historically shown in February. Milan falls as a the third major fashion week during Fashion Month, following New York and London, and before Paris. The main venue for Milan Fashion Week is the Milan Fashion Hub, though many designers show off-site. 

In 1958, the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italia (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) was formed, with a mission to promote Italian design. Italian brands began to rise in prominence because they were more affordable than their Parisian counterparts.  

At the time, many of Italy's major cities were in competition with each other for who would become Italy's fashion capital. Milan began to edge out some of its competitors, like Rome and Florence, thanks to strong links to manufacturing and the growth in ready-to-wear. In the '70s and '80s, the success of Milan-based designers, including Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace, helped to solidify Milan's place as a fashion capital. 

Versace, in particular, drew attention to Milan during fashion week, casting supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford in his shows. 

Today, many major brands show collections at Milan Fashion Week, including Gucci, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Missoni, Ferragamo and Etro, as well as Giorgio Armani and Versace. 

Historic moments at Milan Fashion Week have included Tom Ford's 1994 debut show for Gucci, which began a revival for the then-stagnant brand. There was also Miuccia Prada's 1996 show featuring dull greens, browns and purples, contributing to the ugly-chic era of '90s fashion. More recently, at Versace's spring 2018 runway show, Donatella Versace brought back the '90s with the era's supermodels, including Crawford, Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni and Helena Christensen, who walked in the show. 

Milan Fashion Week

Marcelo Burlon RTW Spring 2016

Marcelo Burlon staged an avant-garde dance performance to present his collection of elevated streetwear.

Fausto Puglisi RTW Spring 2016

Fausto Puglisi drew from dual wells of inspiration — one ancient, one modern — for his vivid, embellished…

Alberta Ferretti RTW Spring 2016

Alberta Ferretti's ethereal yet edgy spring collection was inspired by desert romance — and Burning Man.

No. 21 RTW Spring 2016

Alessandro Dell'Acqua showed a creative collection combining hard-edged Nineties references with softer…

Fay RTW Spring 2016

Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi showed a collection with a Seventies feel, rich embroideries and…

Les Copains RTW Spring 2016

In a spring collection that was a modern-day take on "Madame Butterfly," Les Copains creative director…

Genny RTW Spring 2016

Creative director Sara Cavazza's spring collection for the label was inspired by the Art Deco movement.

Stella Jean RTW Spring 2016

Stella Jean continued the mutli-culti pastiche that's become her thing, this time by Italian migrants who…

Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss Hit Milan

The models made an appearance at Mango's flagship store in Milan, where fans had waited since the early…

Milan Fashion Week: Designers to Watch

Milan Fashion Week will feature an array of new labels, established houses with new faces and lines new to…

Gucci Collaborates With Milan’s Antonia Boutique

During the upcoming Milan Fashion Week, the store will unveil special windows dedicated to Gucci's women's…

Fausto Puglisi Launches Footwear

The designer will introduce a full shoe collection with the spring 2016 collection.

Piazza Sempione to Debut First Short Film

The fashion brand tapped Italian artist Rä di Martino for the project.

Camera Nazionale della Moda to Host Initiative for Upcoming Designers

Seventeen emerging designers will showcase their collections at the Fashion Chamber's Hub in Milan's Piazza…

Armani Theater to Host Daizy Shely Fashion Show

The Israeli women's designer will show its collection on Sept. 26 during Milan Fashion Week.