Milan Fashion Week
Hello, fashion lovers!
In this week's article, we're recapping Milan Fashion Week, one of the world's most prestigious fashion events.
This event, where creativity, design, and luxury meet in the fashion world, continues to captivate fashion enthusiasts around the world each year. Let's look at the parts that connect to our focus area and a green future.
Ready? Let's begin...
But first, a quick look at what's on the agenda :)
The Home of Fashion: Milan
Milan is not just one of Italy's most important fashion hubs — it's one of the world's. The city blends its rich history with modern design to create a unique atmosphere. Held twice a year, Milan Fashion Week is one of the major international events showcasing new spring-summer and fall-winter trends from the most important Italian brands. The first runway event of 2024 was held on February 20-26.
At this Fashion Week, kings and queens of the industry such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta took front row seats with exclusive shows.
Sustainability and Fashion
According to Reuters: 'In Europe, textile consumption has the fourth-highest impact on the environment and climate change, after food, housing, and transport.' From this perspective, the textile industry needs to bring its processes — from production to consumption — under control for a greener world. In the EU, about 5.8 million tons of textile products are thrown away each year — roughly 11 kg (24 pounds) per person — and a large share of these ends up in landfills or is incinerated. High-emission production processes make this transformation more difficult. A study by Wrap shows that each ton of clothing produced in the UK generates roughly 26.2 tCO2e (tons of CO2 equivalent). Another part of the textile sustainability problem is that cotton is the world's most consumed textile fiber (in high demand due to its quality and absorbency). This shows that the fashion and textile industries urgently need sustainable production methods. Requiring the recycling and better processing of clothing and textile waste isn't enough — companies likely need to be encouraged through reward systems as well.
Alongside production, we also need to drive a decisive change in consumption behavior to reduce the need for new clothing production. Embracing concepts like circular fashion — where clothing is designed to be recycled and passed on — can contribute to a more sustainable and resource-efficient industry.
What Is Circular Fashion?
Circular fashion is a system in which clothing is produced with a thoughtful model, where the product's creation and its end are equally important. This approach refers to a cycle in which brands — operating within a framework grounded in fundamental human and environmental values — produce products thoughtfully, considering both the materials used and production methods. Circular fashion emphasizes using a product's value to the fullest, then reusing it for another purpose and eventually recycling it to close the loop. Instead of throwing a product away, the ultimate goal is to transform it after use.
The Sustainability Story at Milan Fashion Week
First, we need to look at how sustainability began entering these kinds of events. In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, representatives of fashion giants such as Chloé, Missoni, Dries Van Noten, and Gucci signed an open letter to the fashion industry, committing to producing fewer items, using sustainable pieces, and rethinking and adapting runway shows to strengthen sustainability across the supply chain and sales calendar. These commitments were not just adopted by a few brands or at one event; brands and organizations around the world began putting them into practice. New products are now making their way to consumers. The menu has expanded. For example, we've seen bags made from chitosan — a biodegradable, plastic-free material that is the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose, sourced from the shells of crustaceans, insects, and fungi.
Last week during Milan Fashion Week, THEMOIRè — known for its vegan bags made 100% in Italy — launched its latest collection, "Wings of Change," alongside the innovative Infinity Forest project. So what makes the collection special? It's sustainable :) Co-founders and creative directors Salar Bicheranloo and Francesca Monaco lead THEMOIRè's commitment to environmental and social responsibility, positioning the brand as a pioneer in sustainable fashion. Known for its strong practices, THEMOIRè has won awards such as the PETA Vegan Fashion Award and was a finalist at the 2022 Sustainable Fashion Awards.
Sustainability Highlights at Milan Fashion Week
CarbonSmart's round-up of Milan Fashion Week highlights:
- Gucci's collection, inspired by the "joy of life," drew major attention.
- Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons created a collection for Prada that emphasized the importance of handcraftsmanship. The collection's aim was to highlight creative craftsmanship and the future sustainability of fashion.
- Fendi's Milan Fashion Week collection celebrated Rome's elegance and sense of freedom.
- Max Mara's collection drew on Colette's bold style and love of freedom, featuring androgynous lines and sophisticated details.
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