Milan, Are You Ready to Make Bolder Moves? 

According to the “State of fashion 2024,” reported last November 29, 2023, by McKinsey & Company, an international management consultancy firm serving the world’s largest companies, as well as non-profit  organizations on strategy, corporate finance, digitalization, advanced analytics, marketing and operational improvement, the fashion industry is still dealing with uncertainty.

Multiple factors – Covid, technological innovation, sustainability, and the transformation of consumptions patterns – have harmed the fashion system and held back growth. 

Carlo Capasa , chairmain of the CNMI (the National Chamber for Italian fashion), interviewed by D – La Repubblica delle donne (a magazine attached to the leading newspaper La Repubblica), cited the higher value of Milan Fashion Week as not just a place where market demands are met but“…where we create dreams…. It’s time to claim the importance of Made in Italy….The economic crisis is hard but it will pass  in the second half of year 2025…”

Italian fashion has attempted to adjust to changing patters with such moves as creating the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2024 and  the “Keqiao the Excellence Exhibition,” an initiative led by Mario Boselli, president of the Italy China Council Foundation and Honorary President of the Italian Chamber for fashion.    

As reported on the CNMI Official site, the Sustainable Fashion Awards “ ..acclaim personalities and organizations that have stood out for their vision, innovation, devotion to craft, recognition of differences, circular economy, human rights, environmental justice and biodiversity….”. The international event, organized by CNMI in collaboration with other institutions such as the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) of the United Nations ITC Agency and supported by the city of Milan, acknowledges achievements by ten prominent prominent players – Brunello Cucinelli, Gucci, Moncler, Diesel, Arizona Muse, Zazi Vintage, Golden Goose & Satay B, Mehdi Benabadij CEO of Brioni, The Lenzing Group – who, combining craftsmanship, environmental friendly procedures, and innivation, are making an industry that refines the concept of luxury.

“Keqiao the Excellence Exhibition” from one of the largest Chinese textile districts was part of the official calendar of the Milan Fashion Week that took place last September. The show is meant to reinforce the strategic three- year partnership between CNMI and China, meant  to build opportunities and cultural exchanges. 

This particular event showcased four Chinese talents and will be followed by the Kequiao Fashion week this October, where  a selection of Italian emerging designers will be included as well.

CNMI is vigorously reacting to the crisis with strategic move, but the sky is the limit and Milan, considered as THE international fashion capital that an entire industry looks up to, could take the risk of  much bolder moves.

It’s true that fashion in general and Italian fashion primarily sell DREAMS and dreams are made of something that can’t be seen, touched and tasted, but the energy that they create can be so much tangible!

How beautiful would it be to create a dream where an army of sizeless, ageless, genderless, citizens of the world come together, not just to gain a piece of art or to stare from behind the scenes at the red carpet, but to be an active part of a collective empowerment? A place where all of us share the dream to be more than a fashion army in a much more inclusive way?

Equality in all its meanings, biodiversity and sustainability are noble yet essential themes that make us stand together as one but, somehow, are still felt beyond the reach of ordinary people. 

We have seen styles come and go over the years. We love to express ourselves using the art of fashion to embody our souls, but it’s time to give people a bigger dream to live from the front row seats, especially in these times of uncertainty.

We don’t buy a garment just for its style, we don’t even need an influencer to tell us what to wear: those times are long gone. Our wardrobes are fully equipped already. What we want is to wear values that can help us to sail the sea of life gracefully, knowing that we are part of a squad ready to celebrate, to support our needs and to turn our whispers into a strong voice without losing the light hearted approach that only fashion can gift us.

Italians own the raw material, the “Made in Italy” trademark, the creativity, the human capital. This is the right time to set the crowds on fire with bolder moves. 

Milan, are you ready for the challenge?

Top Bigstock Photo: Detail of bag outside Cristiano Burani fashion show building for Milan Women’s Fashion Week on February 26, 2015 in Milan.