Milan Fashion Week 2025: Honoring Armani and Welcoming New Creative Directions

Milan Fashion Week 2025, scheduled from September 23rd to 29th, is set to be a significant event, paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Giorgio Armani and marking the arrival of new creative leadership at several major fashion houses. The week will feature the Spring/Summer 2026 women's collections from renowned brands including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Fendi, Roberto Cavalli, Ferragamo, and Bottega Veneta.

A special tribute to Giorgio Armani will take place on September 28th at the Pinacoteca di Brera. This event will celebrate the designer's profound contributions to the fashion industry, showcasing an exhibition of his significant creations. Carlo Capasa, head of Italy's Chamber of Fashion, highlighted Armani as a founder who imparted invaluable creative, entrepreneurial, and human lessons. Giorgio Armani, who passed away on September 4, 2025, at the age of 91, built a vast fashion empire and was instrumental in establishing Milan as a global fashion capital. His influence on modern style, characterized by deconstructed silhouettes and understated elegance, continues to inspire designers worldwide.

This season also heralds pivotal moments with several highly anticipated directorial debuts. Demna will present his inaugural collection for Gucci, a move anticipated to inject fresh energy and a distinct design language into the brand, especially as it navigates a period of sales decline. This transition follows the departure of Alessandro Michele. Dario Vitale is set to unveil his first collection for Versace, taking over after nearly three decades of Donatella Versace's creative direction. Vitale's debut is scheduled as an intimate event on September 26th.

Further creative realignments within the luxury sector include Louise Trotter's debut runway show for Bottega Veneta and Simone Bellotti's first presentation for Jil Sander. These changes reflect a broader industry trend of creative director reshuffles, driven by the need for new perspectives to maintain consumer engagement and brand relevance in a dynamic global economy. The influx of new creative talent is expected to be a catalyst for innovation, potentially redefining brand identities and capturing the attention of a discerning global audience.