Fashion legitimises its cultural capital through design co-labs, like Prada’s Gio Ponti train symposium and Saint Laurent’s Perriand exhibit
Milan has always been a place where fashion and design are closely connected. At a time when the fashion industry prompts us to reflect on the uncertainties that surround it, fashion houses are shifting their approach. Major international luxury brands, from Prada to Saint Laurent, have chosen Fuorisalone 2025 as a platform to experiment, blend different languages, and express their vision.
Until 13 April 2025, the city of Gaber will transform into a hub of ideas, innovative materials, and groundbreaking collaborations between leading names in fashion and design. This year, the dialogue between these two realms has become more intertwined than ever, giving rise to projects that redefine the notions of luxury, sustainability, and aesthetic experimentation.
Here are some of the top events celebrating this merger.
Design and Motion Converge on Gio Ponti’s Arlecchino Train with Prada Frames
Prada, in collaboration with Formafantasma, presents “In Transit”, a symposium aboard the Arlecchino train designed by Gio Ponti, as well as in the Padiglione Reale of Central Station. The event brings together designers, philosophers, and artists to discuss the intersection of mobility, infrastructure, and geopolitics in today’s context.
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When Yohji Yamamoto Meets 10 Corso Como: A Slice of Japan, Curated for Milano Design Week 2025
Yohji Yamamoto’s vast legacy as a forerunner of avant-garde design is showcased in the 10 Corso Como concept store, now led by Tiziana Fausti. The installation combines fashion, innovation, and art, serving as the backdrop for the Spring/Summer 2025 collections, along with the Discord collection by the designer known for his signature use of the colour black.
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Saint Laurent Rediscovers Charlotte Perriand’s Most Elusive Masterpieces
Until April 13, the Visconti Pavilion in Milan is showcasing an exhibition by Anthony Vaccarello's Saint Laurent that features the lesser-known designs of Charlotte Perriand, drawn from collections that were never realised. Who was Charlotte Perriand? She was a prominent figure in the fields of architecture, furniture, and urban planning during the twentieth century, as well as a pioneer for women’s design. Perriand also collaborated with the famed architect Le Corbusier.
Yves Saint Laurent collected Perriand’s designs throughout his life, while Pierre Bergé played a significant role in promoting her contributions to a global audience. That’s why the “Saint Laurent - Charlotte Perriand” exhibition is a tribute to the connection between the fashion house and Perriand’s architectural legacy.
The exhibition showcases four extraordinary projects created between 1943 and 1963 that were previously only available as sketches or prototypes. Vaccarello personally selected these works, including the Table Mille-Feuilles, which is displayed in full size for the first time and is now offered as a made-to-order Limited Edition.
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Marking 25 Years of Armani/Casa: Where Nature, the East, and Design Converge
In 2000, Giorgio Armani introduced his home collection as an extension of his aesthetic sensibility into the lifestyle realm. Now, during Milan Design Week 2025, the brand celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special event at its flagship store on Corso Venezia.
Reimagined for the occasion, the boutique has become a showcase of objects inspired by nature, the East—so dear to Armani—and the arts. The result is a fusion of symbols and reinterpretations, featuring lush jungle motifs and mythical creatures that evoke a sense of wonder and serene opulence.
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Elie Saab Maison Opens the Doors to a New Home for Haute Décor
Elie Saab has opened a new showroom in Milan, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the world of luxury interiors. Among the highlights is the Eclisse sofa, designed by Carlo Colombo, which stands out as a modular sculpture that combines comfort and refinement. Additionally, ten new pieces from the Sculpted Dreams collection feature fluid shapes and bold silhouettes, capturing the essence of haute couture in décor.
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Lewis Kemmenoe Answers Fendi’s Call at Milan Design Week
At Milan Design Week 2025, Fendi has handed the creative reins of its Piazza della Scala flagship store to Lewis Kemmenoe, an emerging British talent whose unique perspective reinterprets the brand’s rich artisanal legacy.
Selected under the vision of Silvia Venturini Fendi and previously featured at the recent Design Miami/, Kemmenoe’s sculptural pieces engage in a dialogue with the latest offerings from Fendi Casa, including the new Fendi Cover sofa, a collaborative creation by the in-house FF Design studio and Flos B&B Italia Group.
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Missoni Treats Itself to a Home Design Boutique in Brera (and Invites Us for Cocktails)
Fabrics, textures, and patterns take centre stage in Missoni’s first boutique dedicated to home design. Nothing has been left to chance, from the wallpaper created in collaboration with Jannelli&Volpi to the warm-toned metal ribbon that flows throughout the space. The dark red ceiling adds an elegant touch, making it the perfect setting to showcase the Home 2025 collection.
Throughout the month, Missoni also invites us to experience a takeover at Il Principe Bar, located inside the Principe di Savoia Dorchester Collection Hotel. During Milan Design Week, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy views of the Duomo from the Rinascente terrace, specially customised by the brand.
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ACBC and The Power of Responsible Choice at Fuorisalone’s Giardini delle Idee
When talking about the intersection of fashion and design, it is essential to mention ACBC, an Italian brand known for its commitment to sustainability. At the Cloister of the Museo Diocesano, ACBC presents “The Power of Responsible Choice,” an immersive installation that encourages visitors to reflect on their daily choices. This experiential space, part of the Garden of Ideas curated by Vanity Fair during Fuorisalone 2025, offers a sensory journey that inspires conscious reflection amid the bustling atmosphere of Milano Design Week.
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Themes of Love, Desire, and the Strength of Being a Woman at the Miu Miu Literary Club
Another successful initiative by Miuccia Prada is the Miu Miu Literary Club at the Circolo Filologico, which places literature at the forefront of cultural dialogue, exploring the complex nuances of the female experience. The latest chapter, “A Woman’s Education”, will feature readings from international authors Simone de Beauvoir and Fumiko Enchi, with discussions scheduled for today and April 10.
Curated by Olga Campofreda, the conversations will delve into the societal rules and roles imposed on women. The series will begin with The Inseparable, a novel by Simone de Beauvoir written in 1954 but published only in 2020, which highlights female friendship as a pivotal aspect of self-determination. On 10 April, the dialogue will be About Love, Sex and Desire, focusing on The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi, a frank portrayal of female desire, recognised as one of the first of its kind in Japan.
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The Re-Enactment of Childlike Wonder with Anteprima and Mika Ninagawa
Anterpima, located at 10 Corso Como, is hosting an exhibition featuring Mika Ninagawa, an international artist and photographer. This exhibition evokes the childlike wonder of exploring a treasure chest filled with jewels while also contrasting this with symbols of social constraint and unexpressed desires. It includes two installations: “Liberation and Obsession,” which showcases Ninagawa’s inner world through the use of vibrant colours and symbolic images, and “Within the Breath of Light Shadow,” a luminous composition reminiscent of a gun, which intertwines suncatchers, stars, butterflies, and crystals.
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Marsèll and Objects of Common Interest at Milano Design Week 2025
Marsèll has formed an artistic partnership with Via della Spiga, unveiling the “Adaptive Ground” installation at its flagship store. This project embodies the philosophy of the Greek design studio Objects of Common Interest. “Adaptive Ground explores the fluid relationship between structure and softness, presence and transformation,” explain the founders, Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis. “Our ideas unfold across the two levels of the space, materialising through formations that oscillate between stability and change.”
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Agnese Pasquinelli
Alumna, Milan