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
MM6 Maison Margiela RTW Spring 2020
The brand hosted a sort of wedding party with brides and grooms dressed in versatile, urban designs.
Emporio Armani RTW Spring 2020
Milan's master of slouch and soft tailoring was in full flow, sending out a collection filled with crumpled…
Max Mara RTW Spring 2020
BBC spy series "Killing Eve" was the starting point for Max Mara designer Ian Griffiths this season.
Margherita Is Back Home!
Appointed creative director of Missoni's younger line last year, Margherita Maccapani Missoni is going to…
Prada RTW Spring 2020
Miuccia Prada had a goal both straight-forward and profound: to create "a collection about the power of women…
A$AP Rocky Attends First Fashion Week Show Since Sweden Assault Case
Prada was the musician's first fashion show after he was found guilty of assault in Stockholm, and he spent…
Marco Rambaldi RTW Spring 2020
For his second fashion show, the 28-year-old designer imagined a liberated woman embracing life's mistakes…
Calcaterra RTW Spring 2020
Daniele Calcaterra showed a pretty collection infused with intimacy and essentiality.
Mila Schön RTW Spring 2020
Gunn Johansson revisited some of the brand's most iconic silhouettes for a bit nostalgic, very bourgeois idea…
United Colors of Benetton RTW Spring 2020
Called Color Wave, the second runway show held in Milan and designed by artistic director Jean-Charles de…
Tiziano Guardini RTW Spring 2020
The Italian designer showed a pretty collection without betraying his sustainability goals.
WWD List: 10 Things to Do During Milan Fashion Week
For when you're not at the shows, that is.
Etro to Take Over Milan’s Bice Restaurant During Fashion Week
The Italian fashion label will lend pieces from its home and textile collection for one week.
Camera della Moda’s Capasa Weighs In on Italy’s Political Situation
Presenting the Milan Fashion Week calendar, Capasa referenced the local political scene after Giuseppe Conte…
Brands Auction Off Tickets to Their Fashion Shows for Charity
This season, Italian brands were joined by fashion houses showing in London and Paris in partnering with the…