Milan Fashion Week () is a clothing

trade show A trade show, also known as trade fair, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and ...

held semi-annually in

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, Italy. Upcoming autumn/winter fashions are showcased in February/March of each year, and upcoming spring/summer fashions are showcased in September/October of each year. Many designers showcase new designs and upcoming collections. Milan Fashion Week is one of the "Big Four" global

fashion weeks Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into outfits that depict distinctive ways of dressing ( style ...

alongside

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, and

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

History and operations

Milan Fashion Week, established in 1958, is part of the global "Big Four

fashion week A fashion week is a week-long fashion industry event where fashion designers, brands, or "houses" display their latest collections in runway fashion shows to buyers and the media which influences upcoming fashion trends for the current and appro ...

s", the others being

Paris Fashion Week Paris Fashion Week (, commonly ) is a series of designer presentations held semi-annually in Paris, France, with spring/summer and autumn/winter events held each year. Dates are determined by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Pa ...

London Fashion Week London Fashion Week (LFW) is a clothing trade show that takes place in London, England, twice a year, in June and September. Showcasing over 250 designers to a global audience of influential media and retailers, it is one of the 'Big Four' fash ...

, and

New York Fashion Week New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events in Manhattan typically spanning seven to nine days when international Fashion design, fashion collections are shown to buyers, the pres ...

. The schedule begins with New York, followed by London, and then Milan, and ending with Paris. Since the year 1958, Milan Fashion Week has been taking place semi-annually with a women's and a men’s fashion week. Milan Fashion Week is partially organized by the

National Chamber of Italian Fashion Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (often translated to ''National Chamber for Italian Fashion'' or ''Italian Fashion Council'' in English) is a non-profit organization, whose purpose is the promotion, coordination of the Italian fashion ind ...

(), a

non-profit association A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

that disciplines, co-ordinates, and promotes the development of Italian fashion and is responsible for hosting the fashion events and shows of Milan. The , was set up on 11 June 1958. This was the forerunner of the body which subsequently became the . Proprietors of the most important establishments in Italy, including some private establishments, which, in those days, played a crucial role in the promotion of this sector, were present at the Memorandum of Association:

Roberto Capucci Roberto Capucci (born 2 December 1930) is an Italian nationality law, Italian fashion designer. Early life and education Capucci was born on 2 December 1930 in Rome, Italy. He studied art school, art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Acca ...

Emilio Schuberth Emilio Federico Schuberth (1904–1972) was an Italian fashion designer, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Schuberth was called the "tailor of the stars", and his work was loved by many international celebrities like Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari, P ...

, Maria Antonelli, Princess Caracciolo Ginnetti, Alberto Fagiani, Giovanni Cesare Guidi,

Germana Marucelli Germana Marucelli (13 October 1905 – 23 February 1983) was an Italian fashion designer. Life and career Born in Settignano, Florence into a family of craftsmen, after the primary school at 11 years old Marucelli started working as an apprent ...

, Simonetta Colonna Di Cesarò, Jole Veneziani, Francesco Borrello, Giovanni Battista Giorgini, and the lawyer Pietro Parisio. The events dedicated to women's fashion are the most important (Womenswear / Milan SS Women Ready to Wear, and Milano Moda Donna being the major fashion shows). The summer events dedicated to men include Menswear and Milano Moda Uomo. In 2013, the Autumn/Winter Milan Fashion Week commenced on 20 January with Paola Frani's showcase. It was followed by presentations from renowned fashion houses including

Armani Giorgio Armani S.p.A. (), commonly known as Armani, is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in Milan by Giorgio Armani which designs, manufactures, distributes and retails haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, accessories, and ...

Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta S.r.l () is an Italian luxury fashion house based in Milan, Italy. Its product lines include ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, accessories, jewellery and fragrances. Bottega Veneta is headquartered in Milan, Italy, with its main at ...

Roberto Cavalli Roberto Cavalli (; 15 November 1940 – 12 April 2024) was an Italian fashion designer and inventor. He was known for exotic prints and for creating the sand-blasted look for jeans. The Roberto Cavalli fashion house sells luxury clothing, perf ...

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce & Gabbana (), also known by initials D&G, is an Italian Luxury goods, luxury fashion house founded in 1985 in Legnano by Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The house specializes in ready-to-wear, handbags, accessories, ...

Etro Etro is a family-managed Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1968. It is mainly known for its paisley patterns, which the company started making in 1981. History Etro was founded in 1968 by Gerolamo "Gimmo" Etro as a textile design company. ...

Fendi Fendi Srl () is an Culture of Italy, Italian luxury goods, luxury fashion house producing fur, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Founded in Rome in 1925 by fashion designers Edoardo Fendi and ...

Ferragamo Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A., doing business as Ferragamo, () is an Italian luxury fashion house focused on apparel, footwear, and accessories headquartered in Florence, Italy. It specializes in designing and manufacturing footwear and leather good ...

Gucci Guccio Gucci S.p.A., doing business as Gucci ( , ), is an Italian Luxury goods, luxury fashion house based in Florence. Its product lines include handbags, ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, and home decoration; and it licenses its name and ...

Jil Sander Heidemarie Jiline "Jil" Sander (; born 27 November 1943) is a German minimalist fashion designer and the founder of the Jil Sander (brand), Jil Sander fashion house. Early life and education Heidemarie Jiline Sander was born in Wesselburen on 2 ...

Marni The name Marni originates from several languages, including Hebrew, meaning "rejoice", and Latin as a variant of "Marina (given name), Marina", meaning "of the sea". It also has derivations from Goidelic languages, Gaelic and Swahili language, Swa ...

Max Mara Max Mara (Italian aks 'ma:ra is an Italian fashion business that markets upscale ready-to-wear clothing. It was established in 1951 in Reggio Emilia by Achille Maramotti (7 January 1927 – 12 January 2005). As of October 2024 the company ha ...

Missoni Missoni is an Italian luxury fashion house based in Varese, Italy, Varese, and known for its colourful knitwear designs. The company was founded by Ottavio Missoni, Ottavio ("Tai") and Rosita Missoni in 1953. History Early beginnings The busin ...

Miu Miu Miu Miu is an Italian high fashion women's clothing and accessory brand and a fully owned subsidiary of Prada. It is headed by Miuccia Prada and headquartered in Milan, Italy. Silvia Onofri is its CEO. History Miu Miu was established in 1992 ...

Moschino Moschino () is an Italian Luxury goods, luxury fashion house founded in 1983 by Franco Moschino in Milan known for over-the-top, Camp (style), campy designs. The company specializes in ready-to-wear, handbags, and fashion accessories. Moschino's ...

Philipp Plein Philipp Patrick Hannes Plein (born 16 February 1978) is a German fashion designer, entrepreneur, and the founder of the Philipp Plein International Group, which includes the Philipp Plein, Plein Sport, and Billionaire brands. He is the founder ...

Prada Prada S.p.A. (, ; ) is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada. It specializes in leather handbags, travel accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear, and other fashion accessories. Prada licenses its name and branding ...

Pucci Pucci may refer to: * Pucci, formerly Emilio Pucci, the name of an Italian fashion brand. * Members of the Pucci family, a major Florentine political family ** Antonio di Puccio Pucci (c. 1350 – after 1416), Florentine politician and architect ...

, John Richmond,

Tod's Tod's S.p.A. is an Italian fashion house specialized in footwear, apparel, and related accessories headquartered in Marche. It is majority controlled by businessman Diego Della Valle. Founded in 1920 by Filippo Della Valle, a cobbler, it was co ...

Valentino Valentino may refer to People * Valentino (surname), including a list of people with the name * Valentino (given name), including a list of people with the name Mononymous persons * Valentino (fashion designer) (born Valentino Clemente Ludovic ...

Versace Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury elite fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as '' haute couture'' under it ...

and

Zegna Ermenegildo Zegna N.V., also known as Zegna Group () or the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, is an Italian luxury fashion house headquartered in Milan. It was founded in 1910 by Ermenegildo Zegna in Trivero, Biella, in the Piedmont region of northern It ...

among others. The event also featured displays from emerging labels and young designers such as Au Jour Le Jour, Cristiano Burani, Gabriele Colangelo, Marco De Vincenzo, Stella Jean, Chicca Lualdi, MSGM, N°21, Fausto Puglisi, and

Francesco Scognamiglio Francesco Scognamiglio (born 26 June 1975) is an Italian fashion designer and businessman. Biography Born in Pompei, the son of a lawyer, Scognamiglio studied at the Istituto Europeo del Design in Naples. After working for Versace, in 1998 he ...

. Additionally, on 20 November 2013, Giorgio Armani made the announcement of his decision to join the Italian Chamber of Fashion. In April 2015,

Carlo Capasa Carlo Capasa is an Italian fashion executive who has been the president of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana since June 2015. His leadership has been marked by controversy over his perceived lack of action against racism in the industry and prot ...

was named president of the Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana succeeding former president Mario Boselli. Certain shows are not held in conjunction with the Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana, including

. The Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana has also been sharply criticized by designers such as Cavalli.

2020–2022: Milano Digital Fashion Weeks

Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, the 2020 edition took place only through

digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, viewed, distributed, modified, listened to, an ...

from 14 July to 17 July 2020. In 2022,

made a debut at Milan Fashion Week, finding 68 pairs of twins to showcase their design.

Locations

Milan Fashion Week includes more than 40 shows each season and transforms the city into a touristic hub by simply creating various venues for the shows selecting the most elegant and influential palaces to become the stage for design. Examples of locations are

Palazzo Reale This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania {, class="wikitable" width="95%" , - bgcolor="white" !align=center, Residence !align=center, Photo !align=center, City !align=cen ...

, Palazzo Serbelloni, and many others.

Sustainability controversy

In 2014,

Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by a group of Environmental movement, environmental activists. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its biod ...

protested to demand "toxic-free fashion" by hanging signs in the

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (; ) is Italy's oldest active shopping arcade and a major landmark of Milan. Housed within a four-story double arcade in the centre of town, the ''Galleria'' is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of ...

. Chiara Campione of Greenpeace Italy said the demonstration was set up to "...ask Italian brands, especially

, because it has the highest level of hazardous chemicals in its products, to publicly commit to eliminate harmful substances from the various stages of production."

Key revenues

In 2021, the following revenue was reported for Milan Fashion Week. * Attendees / Visitors: 30,000 * Total Income: €64 million * City Income: €15.5 million * Business Income: €48.5 million * Venue Income: €7 million * Restaurant Income: €22 million * Retail Income: €26 million * Accommodation Income: €9 million * Average Expenditure per Visitor: €1,902Hendriksz, V. (2021, March 9). Money-makers: What Milan earns from Milan Fashion Week. FashionUnited. Retrieved April 2022, from https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/money-makers-what-milan-earns-from-milan-fashion-week/2017022223620

References

External links

Milan Fashion Week Official SiteMilan Fashion Week WomenswearMilan Fashion Week MenswearMilan Fashion Week 2019 Gucci News
{{Milan landmarks Fashion events in Italy 1958 establishments in Italy Recurring events established in 1958 Fashion in Milan Fashion weeks Tourist attractions in Milan