Stepping into Milan Fashion Week this year felt like arriving into two overlapping stories—one of great loss, one of determination. Early mornings at Marchesi for obligatory espressos and breakfast cannolis, that crisp air just before dawn, conversation flowing with the city slowly waking. There was also the invitation to the ethical roundtable at 10 Corso Como—“Towards Sustainable Fashion / The Cotton Road”—where craft, cotton’s journey, and creative responsibility sat at the table.
At the Giorgio Armani show, there was a weight in the air. The Spring/Summer 2026 collection—titled Ritorni (Returns)—was everything you expect from the house: fluid tailoring, muted tones, elegance that has no rush. But it was also a farewell. Armani, whose work defined what elegance could mean, had passed. The runway, the venue, the people—every element was a tribute. Armani’s signature codes, those near-whispered details of structure balanced with softness, took on new meaning.
The Gucci show, which followed, contrasted in energy—vibrant reinvention, bold statements, playful cut and color. Where Armani’s clothes honoured memory and place—Milan, Pantelleria, the past anchored in calm—Gucci looked forward, en meshing fantasy with tradition. It was a reminder: fashion moves, it evolves, but it also pauses to remember.
One of the quieter joys of the week was witty conversations with fashion icon and friend of the brand Derek Blasberg, always effortless, always sharp, over late night espressos.
Milan this year wasn’t just runway shows and accessories. It was soul. In every candle-lit Brera courtyard, we leave with memories sewn into fabric, and with resolve: to create with honesty, compassion, and clarity.
