Milan Fashion Week returns from 20 to 26 February, the Italian fashion week that brings fashion shows, events, parties and presentations to the city.
There will be more than 160 events scheduled in the city. In addition to the big Italian fashion brands, this edition also sees the debut of new brands and young designers who will also be the protagonists of the Fashion hub at Palazzo Giureconsulti with projects and activities that focus attention on innovation, craftsmanship, sustainability, valorisation of differences and education.
Inside the Fashion Hub, the scheduled fashion shows will be shown live on a giant screen. For enthusiasts and professionals it will also be possible to follow the fashion shows on milanofashionweek.cameramoda.it, the platform launched during the pandemic on the occasion of digital fashion weeks.
Milan Fashion Week will be promoted through a communication campaign created by CNMI, the Municipality of Milan and Yes Milano and broadcast on giant screens and billboards in the Municipality of Milan from 18 to 26 February.
The frenetic pace of the Milanese metropolis is charged with palpable electricity: Milan Fashion Week is upon us, ready to reveal the trends that will dictate women's fashion trends for Autumn/Winter 2024-25. From 20 to 26 February, the city will transform into a truly cosmopolitan stage, where creativity, business and glamor will merge in an irresistible vortex. From the catwalks set up in historic buildings to the most futuristic locations, Milan is preparing to welcome an infinite number of professionals, journalists, influencers and fashion addicts from every corner of the globe, also thanks to the return of Asian buyers to the scene. But Milan Fashion Week is not just a sector event, but represents a moment of great visibility for the city of Milan: Confcommercio estimates an income of 70 million euros, up 22% compared to 2019, with 100 thousand expected attendances ( +10%) of which 65 thousand foreigners. “Events like fashion week consolidate the relationship between Milan, Italy, fashion and Made in Italy, with an advantage for the city. The average expected receipt is one thousand euros", said Alessia Cappello, councilor for economic development and employment of the Municipality of Milan. And the positive effects will not only be had by luxury shops: "The revenues of small local shops will rise by 10%", underlined Cappello again. Not to mention all the collateral events, from exhibitions to debates and parties.
Mind-boggling numbers for a growing sector
Milan Fashion Week is not only an event of great cultural importance, but also represents an important economic driver for the country. The Italian fashion sector, in 2023, according to the Fashion economic trends, closed 2023 with revenues of over 102 billion, up 4% on 2022. Almost 90 billion went abroad: "The exports of the fashion sector are rose by 4.2% in 2023 – commented Matteo Zoppas, president of Ice Agenzia, Camera Moda's partner for fashion week – in a note – and the import-export trade balance reached 40 billion. The main destination countries are confirmed as France, Germany and the USA; the most significant growth was recorded in France and Japan, both at +16%”. All this while specifying that, as underlined by Carlo Capasa, president of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion, "export is a consolidated figure at industrial prices: at retail it is much higher and tells us that Italian fashion is a commodity of primary importance for all the world". For this reason, he commented, “the duty of the institutions is to accompany the evolution of an important sector, with 600 thousand employed in industry and the same number in the tertiary sector, a sector that has also been underestimated. I participated in the Fashion Roundtable meeting, bringing a series of requests to the Government: increased support for investments in Research & Development; measures, as part of the Industry 5.0 plan, designed for small-sized companies. Finally, training: we need not only to attract new talent but also teachers and we would like to involve those who have retired for a few years in the academies".
A full calendar of events (some also open to the public)
Over 160 events will mark the rhythm of the fashion week, including fashion shows, presentations, openings and exclusive parties. The best-known names on the Italian and international fashion scene, from Prada to Versace to Armani, from Dolce & Gabbana to Fendi, Moschino, Etro, Bottega Veneta and Max Mara, will present their women's collections for autumn/winter 2024-25 . There is also a lot of curiosity about the second women's collection by Gucci's new creative director, Sabato De Sarno. But there is also great anticipation for the stars who will arrive in the city to follow the shows and for the top models who will walk the catwalks. All eyes then turned to Diesel, which once again confirmed its desire to open the doors of its show to the general public, distributing 1000 admissions not only to watch the fashion show but also to peek behind the scenes of the event.
Debuts to keep an eye on and expected returns The Milan Fashion Week will also be an opportunity for some debuts that promise sparks. The most awaited are three: Adrian Appiolaza from Moschino, Matteo Tamburini from Tod's and Walter Chiapponi from Blumarine. Also interesting is the return of Marni and the arrival on the Milanese catwalks of Feben (with the support of dolce&gabbana) and Sagaboi, the brand founded and directed by the emerging designer Geoff K. Coope.