As Milan Design Week 2024 draws to a close, we are taking some time to reflect after a flurry of events at Fuorisalone and a deluge of invitations in our inbox. Despite our best efforts, there’s still a lingering sense of FOMO, with that feeling that we missed out on something truly extraordinary. But with only 24 hours in a day, it was impossible to experience everything, especially for those of us who are heavily invested in the fashion world.
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From Gucci and Armani to Zegna and Dolce&Gabbana, all the titans of Italian fashion took part in this week-long event dedicated to the pinnacle of global interior design. In an unprecedented move, they were joined by heavyweight international ready-to-wear brands, descending upon the Lombard capital from far and wide, with Paris – home to Hermès and Saint Laurent – making its presence felt.
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Was Milano Design Week 2024 the global fashion week we’ve always dreamed of? Quite possibly, as the Fuorisalone has a reputation of being inclusive and welcoming to all, with events that are open to the public – a tradition the fashion world, which is typically exclusive, has now embraced. Unlike fashion shows, access to fashion events at Milan Design Week was not restricted; it simply required patience to get through the often lengthy queues.
So here we stand, taking stock of the Fuorisalone 2024, contemplating the symbiotic relationship between (global) fashion and (Italian) design amidst dreams, innovation, and a healthy dose of business.
The Pioneers: Versace and Armani’s Dive into Design
In 1993, Gianni Versace was the first fashion designer to venture into the world of design. Later, in 2000, Giorgio Armani followed suit.
They introduced home decor lines encompassing furnishings and decorations, expanding beyond traditional fashion boundaries. These offerings included not just furniture and upholstery but also a range of home accessories, dishes, and tableware.
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By broadening their scope, fashion houses were able to create desirable objects that extended their brand identity beyond apparel and accessories.
Where Fashion Meets Design: A Fusion of Lifestyle and Business Opportunities
For decades, fashion brands have been captivated by the allure of design, but this fascination seems to have experienced a significant surge in the post-Covid era.
The core idea is to create and provide consumers with a complete lifestyle experience. Interior design has now become a way of personal expression, much like clothing. Consumers not only choose their clothing style but also the furnishings that decorate their living spaces. Just like fashion, their preferences in interior design evolve, influenced by trends, with furniture pieces becoming symbols of their social status and aesthetic tastes. So, why wouldn’t a brand that has already established itself in the market for its leather goods or ready-to-wear collections also venture into the design industry? The consumer demand and market potential are evident.
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With these burgeoning business opportunities, fashion brands have strengthened their position as competitors in the design landscape. As these companies are not merely selling products but promoting a sense of community, it only makes sense that they would expand into home furnishings as a natural progression to provide a greater range of options. Naturally, beauty brands couldn’t afford to fall behind and have also embraced this trend.
Over time, enduring collaborations have emerged between fashion and design labels, alongside in-house design departments within fashion brands themselves.
The Fashion MVPs of Milano Design Week 2024
Wondering which fashion brands stood out at Milano Design Week 2024? We’ve got you covered.
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LoeweLamps Illuminate Palazzo Citterio
Loewe celebrated the essence of light at Palazzo Citterio through LoeweLamps. Twenty-four globally acclaimed artists explored the world of illumination, offering diverse perspectives, materials, and craftsmanship. The result is a collection of floor, table, and pendant lamps that foster unexpected interactions. Alongside these luminous creations, they also curated a selection of the brand’s handbags and home items.
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Gucci Design Ancora Takes Over Via Monte Napoleone
Gucci’s Via Monte Napoleone boutique received a makeover under the direction of its new creative director, Sabato De Sarno. The Kering-owned brand collaborated with Guillermo Santomà, a prominent Catalan architect, to create an acid-green concept that aligns with De Sarno’s fresh aesthetic vision and redefined iconicity.
Parola by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for FontanaArte (1980). Photo courtesy of Gucci
The brand unveiled a special edition of five design objects created in collaboration with Acerbis, cc-tapis, FontanaArte, Tacchini, and Venini. These titans of Italian design reimagined some of their most iconic furnishings in Gucci Ancora’s signature burgundy red, ushering in a new era in the fashion house’s evolution.
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Saint Laurent Presents Gio Ponti at Chiostri di San Simpliciano
Saint Laurent Rive Droite unveiled a collaboration with the Gio Ponti Archives and the Fundación Anala Y Armando Planchart. Curated by Saint Laurent’s creative director, Anthony Vaccarello, the exhibition showcased a collection of plates originally designed by Gio Ponti in 1957 for Villa Planchart in Venezuela at Chiostri di San Simpliciano.
Saint Laurent Rive Droite unveiled a collaboration with the Gio Ponti Archives and the Fundación Anala Y Armando Planchart at Chiostri di San Simpliciano in Milan. Photo courtesy of Saint Laurent
In 1953, in Venezuela, Anala and Armando Planchart hired the renowned Italian architect Gio Ponti to build a villa on the highest hill overlooking Caracas. To decorate the interior of Villa Planchart, the architect collaborated with Italian artisans, including the Florentine manufacturer Ginori 1735, where Ponti previously worked as artistic director. Ponti designed a series of porcelain tableware adorned with the symbols and motifs of the villa.
Saint Laurent Rive Droite, in collaboration with Ginori 1735, reintroduced 12 original plates from the Villa Planchart Segnaposto collection that Gio Ponti designed in 1957.
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Bottega Veneta Rocks Palazzo San Fedele
Bottega Veneta teamed up with Cassina and Fondation Le Corbusier to unveil the ‘On the Rocks’ installation inside Palazzo San Fedele. Under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy, the Kering-owned fashion house focused on the LC14 Tabouret Cabanon, a timeless icon by Le Corbusier, showcasing Cassina’s woodworking excellence.
Bottega Veneta teamed up with Cassina and Fondation Le Corbusier to unveil the ‘On the Rocks’ installation inside Palazzo San Fedele. Photo courtesy of Bottega Veneta
Originally designed by Le Corbusier for his ‘Cabanon,’ a minimalist hut in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the French Riviera, the LC14 Tabouret Cabanon draws inspiration from a wooden whisky crate that Le Corbusier found on the rocks beneath Le Cabanon.
‘On the Rocks’ featured a special edition of the Tabouret LC14, commissioned by Blazy for Bottega Veneta’s Winter 24 fashion show, along with a new limited-edition tribute crafted in Bottega Veneta’s signature Intrecciato leather.
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Armani/Casa Presents ‘Echoes from the World’ at Palazzo Orsini
Giorgio Armani welcomed visitors to Palazzo Orsini, his brand’s iconic headquarters, to showcase the latest Armani/Casa collection titled ‘Echoes from the World.’
“I imagined a cinematic journey to the countries that have always inspired me, places and cultures that spark highly personal reworkings. This is why I wanted the furniture to converse with fashion and why I wanted to exhibit everything in the Via Borgonuovo location”, said Giorgio Armani.
Giorgio Armani welcomed visitors to Palazzo Orsini to showcase the latest Armani/Casa collection titled ‘Echoes from the World.’ Photo by Federica Bottoli, courtesy of Giorgio Armani
Drawing inspiration from Europe, Japan, China, Arabia, and Morocco, Giorgio Armani transformed the essence of these geographic areas into his most distinctive pieces and creations.
As visitors moved through the different rooms, they would see furniture that seamlessly blended with pieces from the Giorgio Armani Privé collections and reminiscent of the designer’s travels, forming a cohesive narrative. The rooms were decorated with elements from the designer’s own residence and items he collected during his travels To emphasise the personal touch behind the design.
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Dolce&Gabbana Searches for Young Design Talent Worldwide with Gen D, Vol.2
The future is of paramount importance for Dolce&Gabbana, especially when it comes to their commitment to supporting emerging designers. Inspired by the vision of fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana to promote budding design talent and immerse them in Italy’s enchanting atmosphere, the second edition of Gen D - Designer Generation has blossomed.
Dolce & Gabbana unveiled the second edition of Gen D - Designer Generation at Via Broggi, 19 in Milan. Photo courtesy of Dolce&Gabbana
Curated by Federica Sala, eleven designers under 40 from around the world came together on Milan’s Via Broggi 19 to celebrate cultural diversity through the universal language of design. The result was a captivating fusion of beauty, diversity, and groundbreaking innovation.
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Wall Talks at Palazzo Versace
Versace flung open the doors to Palazzo Versace on Via Gesù 12, the Milanese home of the fashion house and the historic site of its Atelier, to unveil its latest Versace Home collection with an immersive audio experience titled ‘If These Walls Could Talk.’
Versace unveiled its latest Versace Home collection at Palazzo Versace – the esteemed location of its Atelier and the Milanese heart of the fashion house. Photo courtesy of Versace
The experience took visitors on a musical journey through the palace’s rooms, with voices recounting pivotal events that unfolded within its walls. These include the iconic debut of the Supermodels during the Versace Fall-Winter 1991 fashion show held in the courtyard. Donatella, the sister of Gianni Versace, dedicated memories, thoughts, and words to her brother, making it a truly unique and emotional experience.
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Hermès Goes Equestrian at La Pelota
Hermès unveiled its latest home creations alongside pieces from its heritage at Milan Design Week, hosted at La Pelota, effectively bridging past and present.
The jockey silk, with its geometric patterns, served as an inspiration for leather objects and textiles, symbolising the House’s cultural legacy.
The new Diapason d’Hermès armchair features a radical yet sophisticated design. Additionally, the lamps are inspired by equestrian vaulting codes, while the Tressages équestres dinner service exudes lightness and refinement.
Amidst the bustling events of Fuorisalone and the excitement surrounding the highly sought-after tote bags, which are considered the ultimate free merchandise to collect for free and later resell online, creativity was evident in every corner of the city. Milano Design Week has, more than ever, confirmed its status as the leading event in the global furniture industry, leaving an unforgettable impression on Milan and beyond.
Agnese Pasquinelli
Fashion Business, Digital Communication & Media student, 3rd year, Milan